The Centre's flagship initiative Smart City Mission has received its first international affirmation from the London School of Economics. 

A study from the prestigious institution has said that Indian smart cities could become lighthouses for other cities around the world. ... The study praises that the challenge for choosing smart cities was conducted in an innovative and transparent manner, stating that the due to this process, local leaders have had a new thinking and are encouraged to "perform well under pressure" and "work across departments."