Kerala Tops Urban Governance Index (UGI) in India

Kerala ranked first in the Urban Governance Index (UGI) by the Praja Foundation, scoring 59.31 out of 100, mainly due to strong fiscal management. Kerala outperformed other states, like Odisha, but ranked 20th in city administration empowerment, indicating areas for improvement. Kerala excels in local governance with active councillor participation and technology adoption. However, challenges like vacant government positions, fragmented responsibilities, and a weak mayoral system affect urban management. Despite this, Kerala is a model for timely municipal elections and remains focused on enhancing governance efficiency.