SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities | SDG 13: Climate Action
Institutions: Ministry of Defence
The two-day Manthan 2025 conference of Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) officers was held in New Delhi and concluded on 19 September 2025. The event aimed to chart a long-term roadmap for the development of cantonment areas in alignment with the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision. Key takeaways include a target for carbon neutral cantonments by 2030, plans to make them smart by 2035, and strategies for integrating inclusive development, ease of doing business, and digital service delivery in cantonment governance. The conference emphasized the need for financial resilience of cantonment boards via diversified revenue mechanisms (e.g. PPPs, green bonds), along with institutional reforms to strengthen capacity, citizen engagement, and sustainable infrastructure.
By focusing on cantonments as test beds for sustainable and smart governance, India can showcase models for integrating environmental, urban, and defense land-management priorities. The roadmap could also inform broader national policy on smart cities, climate adaptation, and institutional financial reforms in civic bodies.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can cantonment boards be empowered financially and institutionally to deliver citizen services sustainably while preserving their defense missions?
Follow the full news here: Press Release β PIB