Gurugram Sustainability Handbook 2026 Launch

Around 150 people attended the launch of the Gurugram Sustainability Handbook 2026, the fifth publication in the series by Gurgaon First, with Hon’ble Shri Rao Inderjit Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation and Ministry of Planning, and Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and Member of Parliament from Gurugram as the Chief Guest. The event was held at the SOIL Institute of Management and brought together representatives from civil society, sustainability experts, students, educators and other stakeholders of Gurugram. The programme included a lamp lighting and welcome song by Knowledge Habitat School, welcome remarks by SOIL Institute of Management, an address by Gurgaon First Founder & Director Shubhra Puri, and a presentation of the key findings by researcher Aayush Dasgupta, followed by an overview by sector experts Chetan Aggarwal, Rahul Khera, Sarika Panda Bhatt and Sangeeta Nayyar.

The Gurugram Sustainability Handbook 2026 is a comprehensive compendium and assessment of the city’s key sustainability sectors. It provides an overview of water, waste, energy and mobility, examines the challenges facing the city, highlights emerging solutions and good practices, and outlines a way forward. The publication also looks at the wider ecosystem of sustainability, including governance and citizen action. Speaking at the launch, Shubhra Puri said that Gurgaon First strongly believes that good-quality, credible information is the foundation of active citizenship. She expressed the hope that the Handbook would help identify areas where Gurugram can do better, encourage informed conversations among stakeholders and spark ideas, collaboration and, most importantly, action.

Launching the Handbook, Rao Inderjit Singh shared his special remarks on the occasion. The Minister has been associated with Gurgaon First’s book launches and, according to Puri, his continued presence has been a source of encouragement and reflects his enduring commitment to Gurugram and sustainable development. The event also highlighted Gurgaon First’s expanding work in the city, including its sustainability education programme in schools, its knowledge platform on Gurugram, the Gurgaon Quarterly Newsletter and podcasts on urban issues and sustainability. The organisation’s newest initiative, Music for a Cause, was also highlighted. 

The launch concluded with “An Ode to the Aravallis”. Emphasising the importance of young people in shaping the city’s future, Puri said that as Gurgaon First completes fourteen years, one lesson has become increasingly clear: youth must be active stakeholders in bringing positive change by seeing sustainability to be seen not as an sacrifice, but as an aspiration and a smart, responsible choice. The Handbook is intended as a resource for policymakers, businesses, researchers, civil society organisations and citizens, and as a platform to encourage greater dialogue and action for a more sustainable and resilient Gurugram.