The ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES (AMDA) is a registered body under the Societies Registration Act 1860.

The idea to create an Association of Urban Development Authorities was proposed in the meeting of Urban Development Authorities held on 12^th March, 1982 under the Chairmanship of the Secretary, Ministry of Works and Housing, Government of India. However, the Legal entity of the Association of Metropolitan Development Authorities (AMDA) came into existence on 4th June 1983 with its registration under Societies Registration Act 1860.

AMDA was restructured and titled as ASSOCIATION OF URBAN MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES (AMDA) keeping the acronym AMDA as it is on 7^th March, 2005 and further got changed to the current title as ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES on 17^th November, 2006.

The Association, as the name signifies, addresses the issues pertaining to interface between Municipal Authorities and Development Authorities in the realm of Urbanization, Urban Development and Urban Governance. The organization acts as a focal point for exchange of ideas on Urban Planning and Development. Since its inception the organization has witnessed many developments and has now emerged as knowledge integration and experience exchange platform for Municipal Authorities and Development Authorities through capacity building programmes.

AMDA is a think-tank for planned development of towns and cities, a forum for advocacy of progressive urban development and management issues and policies through the process of Urban planning with subject experts and citizen’s participation in local governance. From year 2017 by Executive Committee meeting resolution, all Municipal Authorities and Development Authorities across the country are its member without monetary involvement. However, consent from respective Municipal Authority and Development Authority is mandatory.