GS1 🌍 Geography

New Urban Agenda

/njuː ˈɜːrbən əˈdʒɛndə/

A comprehensive global framework for sustainable urbanisation adopted at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador, in October 2016, providing standards and principles for the planning, construction, development, management, and improvement of urban areas worldwide.

Context & Background

The New Urban Agenda acts as an accelerator for SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and links to multiple other SDGs; it emphasises inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities through participatory planning, equitable land use, and integrated urban governance.

UPSC Exam Relevance

GS1 (Geography, Urbanisation), GS2 (Governance). Prelims: adopted at Habitat III, Quito, 2016. Mains: asked to discuss frameworks for sustainable urbanisation — the New Urban Agenda provides the global policy context, while India's Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT, and PMAY are domestic implementations.