Key Takeaways from India Land & Development Conference (ILDC) 2025
Grateful to have attended a few sessions at the meaningfully curated ILDC 2025, held on 18 – 20 November at the Ahmedabad Management Association, where Innovative Thought Forum (ITF) was one of the Knowledge Partners.
Even in limited time, each interaction was deeply enlightening, educative and thought-provoking.
Sharing some of the insights that stood out the most:
1️⃣ Land Footprinting as the Starting Point:
A scientific land-footprinting approach is essential to understand actual demand for agriculture, industry, housing, social infrastructure, mobility, forests and water bodies — and to finally dismantle the myth of land scarcity.
2️⃣ Recognising and Mapping Our Commons:
Commons are often misclassified as “wastelands.” Proper inventorisation is critical.
3️⃣ Identifying Surplus & Unused Lands:
Large parcels with trusts, temples, Wakf boards, churches, industries, institutions and governments remain underused. Mapping them is a national priority.
4️⃣ Utilising Idle Lands Without Changing Ownership:
These lands can be leveraged for public or economic use — including through PPP models — while retaining existing ownership structures.
5️⃣ Fungible, Adaptive Land Use:
Land use must evolve with the times, enabling flexible and pragmatic planning.
6️⃣ A Strong Rental/Leasing Framework:
Agriculture, housing and commerce all need a fair and equitable leasing ecosystem to unlock participation and productivity.
7️⃣ A Big Push for Agrivoltaics:
A practical solution to reduce exclusive solar-land demand while offering farmers dual income from energy and agriculture.
8️⃣ Plug-and-Play Spaces for MSMEs:
Developing ready infrastructure on surplus or wasted lands can bring workplaces closer to residences and reduce carbon footprint.
9️⃣ Decentralized Development Models:
Renewables, technology and innovative business models can drive balanced, region-level development.
🔟 A Land Use Efficiency Bureau:
Much like energy and water efficiency frameworks, a dedicated bureau can institutionalise efficient land utilisation across the country.
S B Dangayach
Founder Trustee
Innovative Thought Forum