New Delhi, November 13, 2025: The Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) has launched Dravya – The IIHS Centre for Materials and Sustainable Development, a new national centre aimed at strengthening India’s capacity to manage the rising complexity of materials in its developmental pathway. The launch event, held in New Delhi, also marked the release of the Centre’s first report, “Material-Intensive and Globally Entangled Nature of India’s Development Ambitions.”
The new centre seeks to support India’s transition toward sustainable materials and minerals management by advancing interdisciplinary research, policy dialogue, and capacity-building. Dravya’s thematic focus includes materials governance, mapping material flows, strengthening supply chains, promoting circularity and technology adoption, and embedding equity and climate resilience in India’s growth strategy.
The event brought together senior policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and global experts. A panel discussion on “India 2047: The Road Ahead and the Role of Materials” featured noted economist and former UN Under-Secretary-General Nitin Desai; Sharlene Cosgrove, Head–Group Services, Rio Tinto; and Chandrika Bahadur, CEO, Antara Foundation. The session was moderated by Manish Dubey, Chief-Practice at IIHS.
Speaking at the launch, Aromar Revi, Vice Chancellor of IIHS University, said, “This is an important day for us at IIHS. Dravya is a pioneering effort to open a national dialogue on aligning India’s material needs with national transformation, by embedding materials governance, innovation and robust supply chains, inclusion and climate resilience in India’s development story.”
Manish Dubey, Chief-Practice at IIHS, noted, “The journey we’re embarking upon with Dravya isn’t just about understanding materials; it’s about shaping the very future of India’s growth story. The choices we make about resources, technology and inclusion will define our society for decades to come.”
Economist Errol D’Souza, former Director of IIM Ahmedabad, added, “The launch of Dravya is an important commitment to realising inclusive future growth with sustainability as a core principle… Through this integrated approach, Dravya embodies the conviction that true development means building systems where growth strengthens rather than depletes our capacity to sustain it.”
Representing global industry, Peter Cunningham, CFO, Rio Tinto, said, “The launch of the Dravya Centre marks a significant step in aligning India’s development ambitions with research on sustainable, inclusive and resilient material systems. Dravya’s interdisciplinary approach will be vital in steering the complexity of supply chains, circularity and climate resilience.”
The report released alongside the launch argues that India’s rapid urbanisation, infrastructure expansion, and green transition are intensifying material demand, often faster than extraction and recycling systems can adapt. It highlights that the country’s economic resilience and competitiveness will hinge on its ability to manage these material flows effectively.
Dravya will work across government, industry, academia, and civil society to provide applied research and insights required to navigate material challenges central to India’s development trajectory. The Centre’s launch comes at a critical time, as India undertakes the world’s largest rural-to-urban transition and aims to align material use with long-term sustainability goals.
The IIHS stated that Dravya will serve as a national platform for integrated knowledge and practice, supporting India in building resilient, low-carbon, and inclusive material systems essential for its ambitions leading up to 2047.
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