Urban planning in India has become an essential component of governance due to rapid urbanisation, population growth, economic transformation, and increasing demands for better infrastructure and services. Cities are increasingly becoming centres of economic activity, employment generation, innovation, and social development. However, the current scenario of urban planning in India reflects a complex combination of progress, challenges, institutional limitations, and emerging opportunities. The effectiveness of urban planning is closely connected with the functioning of urban local governance institutions, as cities require decentralised decision-making, participatory approaches, and efficient management systems. India has witnessed unprecedented urban growth in recent decades. The expansion of metropolitan cities, the development of industrial corridors, and migration from rural areas have significantly increased the urban population. Urban areas contribute substantially to the national economy, but rapid and unplanned growth has created several challenges. Many cities face problems such as inadequate housing, traffic congestion, environmental degradation, water scarcity, poor waste management, and pressure on public infrastructure. Urban planning has therefore become necessary to ensure sustainable development and improve the quality of urban life. The current approach to urban planning in India has shifted from traditional master planning towards more comprehensive and integrated planning frameworks. Earlier, urban planning mainly focused on land-use regulation, zoning, and physical development. Contemporary urban planning attempts to include economic development, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, disaster resilience, and improved service delivery. Programmes such as the Smart Cities Mission and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) reflect attempts to modernise urban infrastructure and improve urban governance. The role of urban local governments is central to the success of urban planning. The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 provided constitutional recognition to urban local bodies such as Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, and Nagar Panchayats. It aimed to strengthen decentralisation by transferring functions, powers, and responsibilities related to urban planning and development to local authorities. The Twelfth Schedule of the Constitution includes urban planning, regulation of land use, roads, water supply, sanitation, and slum improvement among the responsibilities of urban local bodies. Despite constitutional provisions, the implementation of decentralised urban planning remains limited in many parts of India. Several urban local bodies continue to face financial, administrative, and technical constraints. Many municipalities lack adequate revenue sources and depend heavily on state government grants. Limited professional expertise, shortage of trained urban planners, and overlapping responsibilities among various agencies reduce the effectiveness of urban