About the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA)

Established in 1976, the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) is a premier institute of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, for research and capacity building for urban sector in India. NIUA’s broad objective is to bridge the gap between research and practice on issues related to urbanisation. For more than 45 years now, NIUA has been the vanguard for contributing to and building the urban narrative for a fast-evolving urban India. The Institute has been actively working on bringing forth key areas of concern for urban India in order to build the discourse at various scales. It has utilised its competencies in research, knowledge management, policy advocacy and capacity building to address urban challenges and continuously strive to develop sustainable, inclusive and productive urban ecosystems in the country.

Project background

The Government of Bihar (Board of Revenue), through the "Vesting of Bettiah Raj Properties Act—2024," owns significant land parcels, presenting a unique opportunity for strategic development and economic growth. Passed by the legislature on November 26, 2024, and subsequently receiving the Governor's approval, the Act empowered the state to take control of approximately 24,500 acres of land in Bihar and 143 acres in Uttar Pradesh. The government has stated its intent to utilise this land for public development projects, including the establishment of medical colleges, hospitals, and sports facilities. This legislative move marks a significant development in the region, prioritising public welfare and infrastructure development.

These land parcels hold immense potential to contribute to the state’s urbanisation agenda and economic growth. The vision of leveraging these land parcels for fostering sustainable and inclusive urban development aligns with the broader goal of transforming Bihar into a prime investment destination for projects of national importance, thereby contributing to the larger vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’.

As a strategic partner with the Board of Revenue, NIUA will play a multifaceted role in providing end-to-end support for the development of Bettiah Raj lands in Bihar. This will encompass:

• Preparation of a geo-spatial base map alongside site profiling and baseline assessments
• Building a socio-economic profile for the region to guide planning efforts
• Knowledge support for stakeholder engagement to ensure effective collaboration
• Defining optimal land use strategies for identified parcels
• Assisting in the formulation of zoning regulations aligned with designated land uses

1. Main duties and responsibilities

• Utilise geo-informatics tools and techniques to understand and interpret trends in spatial data relevant to mapping the revenue data;

• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify and assess potential issues or challenges in GIS-related areas and develop effective solutions;

• Develop all relevant maps for the features like- roads, canals, Power lines, administrative boundaries, physical assets, social infrastructure and any other layers from revenue records, cadastral maps, and other open source with accuracy and precision using GIS platform;

• Integrate data from sources like BhuNaksha, BhuAbhilekh, Census, and Survey of India maps;

• Locate, obtain and compile spatial data from various open sources including satellite imagery, aerial photographs, drone imageries, night light data, open street maps, etc.;

• Prepare reports and presentations on GIS trends, progress and solutions ensuring accuracy and clarity in documentation;

• Integration of primary survey into GIS platform, automate the process of data collection and undertake data analysis;

• Undertake GIS-based spatial modelling and analyses such as spatial regressions, sprawl analyses, suitability and accessibility analyses for various landuses (e.g., for agro-industries, ethanol plants, eco-tourism, housing), etc.;

• Apply innovative thinking towards utilizing geospatial data and provide cross-sector outputs;

• Provide expertise and guidance on GIS-related matters to ensure compliance with standards and regulations, maintaining high-quality deliverables.

These key tasks are not exhaustive, but highlight the type of tasks which the incumbent is expected to perform in a multi-disciplinary team.

2. Qualifications and Experience

• Post-Graduation in Urban Planning/ Geo-Informatics/ GIS and Remote sensing/ Geography/ Economics/ Statistics/Development Studies or other relevant discipline;

• Minimum 5 years of full time work experience after post-graduation and knowledge of urban sector is a must;

• Demonstrated proficiency in mapping and modelling and creative application of GIS in the urban context;

• Software proficiency: ARC GIS, QGIS, Map Info., Arc City Engine; MS Word, Excel, Power Point. Knowledge of secondary datasets (Census of India, NSSO, NFHS, PLFS, CMIE, IHDS and ASI);

Desirable:

• Advance degree and diploma in GIS; Geomatics; Geo-informatics; Drone imagery, etc.; 

• Working knowledge of relevant data analysis software such as R, SPSS, STATA is desirable;

• Software proficiency: In addition to GIS-related applications and software, knowledge of professional software like AutoCAD, Adobe, In design, etc. will be an added advantage;

• Experience of working with State Govt/ Central Govt/Local Bodies/ Resource Centres/ NGOs/ Communities/ National Urban Missions (SMART City, AMRUT, PMAY, etc.)/ multilateral/ bi-lateral organisation like ADB, KFW,UNDP, GIZ, etc;

• Language Proficiency: English and Hindi

3. Application process

   1. Applications to be only submitted online through NIUA’s portal;

   2. Only candidates whose applications are complete in all regard and adhere to the prescribed format will be considered,

   3. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.