Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurates 9th India International Water Week 2026 at Bharat Mandapam

The 9th India International Water Week (IIWW) 2026, held from September 22 to 26 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, underscores the critical importance of water management in India's developmental trajectory. Inaugurated by Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan, the event, organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, centers on the theme 'Climate Resilient Water Management.' This theme reflects the growing urgency to address water challenges exacerbated by climate change, urbanization, and population growth. The Vice-President's address highlighted India's precarious water situation: with 18% of the world's population, India has only 4% of global freshwater resources and 2.4% of the world's land area. This disparity necessitates innovative and cooperative approaches to water conservation and management. Water has always been central to India's civilizational ethos. The Vice-President recalled traditional practices of water conservation and the cultural reverence for rivers. He also shared his personal experience of a 19,000-km Ratha Yatra across Tamil Nadu two decades ago, which aimed to raise awareness about river interlinking and water management. This historical context underscores that water management is not a new challenge but one that requires renewed efforts with modern tools and collective action. A key outcome of the event was the launch of the Sustainable Urban River Management (SURM) Framework and AI/ML-driven Integrated Reservoir Sediment Management. These initiatives signal a shift towards technology-enabled and predictive water management, moving from reactive to proactive strategies. The SURM Framework is particularly relevant as urban rivers face pollution and encroachment, threatening urban water security. The use of AI and ML for reservoir sediment management can enhance the lifespan and efficiency of dams, crucial for irrigation and power generation. The Vice-President emphasized inter-State cooperation, noting that 10 inter-State MoUs have been signed for water sharing, with the Kishau Multipurpose Project agreement among six States serving as a model. This is significant because water disputes in India often strain federal relations. The constitutional framework provides for such cooperation: Article 262 allows Parliament to adjudicate inter-State river disputes, and the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, establishes tribunals. However, cooperative agreements are preferable to litigation, as they foster harmony and sustainable solutions. The Kishau project, involving Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, demonstrates the potential of collaborative federalism. Economically, efficient water management is vital for India's goal of becoming a developed economy by 2047. Agriculture consumes about 80% of India's water, and industrial demand is rising. The Vice-President called for greater water-use efficiency, recycling, and reuse. This aligns with the government's 'Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari' (Water Conservation, People's Participation) initiative, which seeks to make water conservation a mass movement. Behavioral change at the individual level, such as using two buckets for a bath instead of twenty, is emphasized as crucial. Socially, water scarcity affects public health, food security, and livelihoods. The Vice-President's call for 'Jal Suraksha' (water security) leading to 'Jan Suraksha' (people's security) and 'Rashtra Suraksha' (national security) encapsulates the interconnectedness of water with human and national well-being. Climate change adds complexity, with extreme events like floods and droughts becoming more frequent. An integrated approach encompassing river-basin management, groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting, and efficient irrigation is necessary. Politically, water is a state subject under Entry 17 of List II, but the Union government plays a coordinating role through the Ministry of Jal Shakti, formed in 2019 by merging the Ministries of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, and Drinking Water and Sanitation. The Ministry drives flagship schemes like the Jal Jeevan Mission (har ghar jal) and Atal Bhujal Yojana. The Vice-President's appreciation of Prime Minister Modi's leadership and the signing of 10 MoUs indicates a push for cooperative federalism. Internationally, India's water management practices can influence global dialogues on climate resilience and sustainable development, particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). The IIWW serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, with delegates from India and abroad participating. Looking ahead, the deliberations at IIWW 2026 are expected to generate innovative technological, policy, socio-economic, and environmental approaches. The Vice-President's confidence in the outcomes reflects the event's potential to shape India's water future. As India navigates its path to 2047, sustainable water management will be a cornerstone of its development, requiring multi-stakeholder engagement and a paradigm shift in how water is valued, used, and conserved.