Toward Equitable Urban Sustainability: A Mixed Methods Inquiry into Energy–Food–Industry Nexus in India's Emerging Cities

India's rapid urbanization, pivotal to its "Vision 2047" ambitions, places immense stress on the Energy–Food–Industry (EFI) nexus, particularly in emerging cities which are the engines of future economic growth. These cities face a critical challenge: fostering development without exacerbating inequity and environmental degradation. This study investigates the interdependencies and trade-offs within the EFI nexus in three emerging Indian cities: Pune (Maharashtra), Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), and Jaipur (Rajasthan). Employ a sequential mixed-methods approach, this research first quantitatively assesses urban sustainability performance through a composite index (derived from 25 indicators across energy access, food security, and industrial productivity). Subsequently, it qualitatively explores governance and equity dimensions via 45 semi-structured interviews with policymakers, industry representatives, and community leaders. Quantitative results reveal a "nexus penalty"—cities optimizing one sector (e.g., industrial growth in Coimbatore) often do so at the expense of another (e.g., peri-urban food security). Pune demonstrates higher integration but struggles with energy equity in informal settlements. Qualitative analysis uncovers three dominant themes: 1) Siloed governance impedes synergistic policy, 2) Informal sector actors are central to nexus flows yet excluded from planning, and 3) Technological solutions are prioritized over equitable distribution. Synthesizing these findings, the paper proposes a novel, tiered policy roadmap for national, state, and Urban Local Body (ULB) levels, advocating for a "Just Nexus" framework. This framework is essential for aligning India's urban trajectory with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and achieving the inclusive development envisioned for 2047.