FCC

The Walled Garden

2026-04-28

I am not suggesting Indian architects are inadequate. The profession has produced extraordinary work – from Charles Correa's quiet humanism to Balkrishna Doshi's Nobel-recognised genius. However, the regulatory barriers meant to protect the profession are holding it back. It is time for an honest conversation about this.

The Architects Act of 1972 established the Council of Architecture (COA) as the statutory body regulating architecture practice in India. Its founding logic was sound: to ensure those calling themselves architects meet a minimum standard of competence and to protect the public interest...