changeadminIndia’s Ministry of Rural Development participated in the World Water Week 2026 in Stockholm, Sweden, reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening water security through community-led rural development, technology-enabled governance and sustainable management of natural resources.
The global forum provided an important platform to share India’s experiences and learn from international best practices in advancing climate-resilient and inclusive water management.
World Water Week, organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), is one of the world’s leading platforms for dialogue, collaboration and innovation on water.
The annual event brings together governments, development partners, research institutions and practitioners from across the globe to deliberate on emerging water challenges and share knowledge, experiences and solutions.
Representing the Ministry of Rural Development, Ms Rohini R. Bhajibhakre, Joint Secretary, participated in the session titled “National Initiative on Water Security: Translating National Water Visions to Reality: What Works?”.
Rohini shared India’s experience in translating its long-term water vision into institutional and operational approaches to strengthen water security at the grassroots level.
The session was convened by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
Highlighting India’s approach, Ms Bhajibhakre stated that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, water security has emerged as a key pillar of India’s development journey.
India’s Water Vision @2047, aligned with the broader vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, seeks to ensure resilient, inclusive and sustainable water security for all citizens through integrated planning, technological innovation and community participation.
Water is increasingly being viewed as a foundation for rural prosperity, public health, women’s empowerment, climate resilience and sustainable development.
The Ministry highlighted that India’s water security framework is being advanced through a combination of flagship initiatives, including the Jal Jeevan Mission and the National Initiative on Water Security (NIWS).
While the Jal Jeevan Mission is strengthening access to safe drinking water in rural areas, NIWS is reinforcing investments in water conservation, groundwater recharge, water harvesting, and other water security-related assets through scientific, data-driven planning.
A key element of India’s approach presented at the forum was the National Initiative on Water Security (NIWS), which prioritises expenditure on water-related works based on groundwater conditions across blocks.
This approach provides a clear framework for directing investments to water-stressed regions and strengthening long-term water security outcomes through objective, transparent planning mechanisms.
The Ministry further highlighted that the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 places water security among the key focus areas of rural development interventions.
The framework promotes convergence between employment generation, livelihood enhancement, natural resource management and creation of durable community assets through participatory planning and implementation.
Technology and Data-driven Planning for Water Security
At World Water Week 2026, the Ministry showcased India’s growing use of digital public infrastructure, geospatial technologies, and data-driven decision-making to strengthen water security outcomes.
Advanced tools such as Yuktdhara – Geospatial Planning Platform, which leverages GIS and remote sensing technologies, support evidence-based planning of rural development and natural resource management interventions.
The E-Jal Application facilitates data-driven water budgeting at the Gram Panchayat level by integrating information on water resources, rainfall, groundwater and population.
Capacity building and knowledge dissemination are being strengthened through the E-Saksham Learning Platform, while digital dashboards such as VBGRAMG Soft, SECURE and BhuGRAM enable real-time implementation tracking, financial management, monitoring and transparency across rural development programmes.
These technology-enabled systems are helping strengthen decentralised planning and improve the effectiveness of water security interventions across rural India.
The Ministry also emphasised the importance of empowering Gram Panchayats, Village Water and Sanitation Committees and local communities in planning, implementation, operation and maintenance of water-related infrastructure.
Community participation, social accountability mechanisms, and digital monitoring systems have emerged as important pillars for ensuring transparency, sustainability, and the long-term impact of rural water investments.
On 25 August 2026, Ms Bhajibhakre also participated in the High-Level Panel titled “Financing Water Resilience and Prosperity: Translating Commitments into Implementation and Sustainable Impact ahead of the UN 2026 Water Conference.”
The session brought together ministers, multilateral development banks, climate finance institutions, and development partners to discuss approaches to strengthen investments in water resilience and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
During the discussion, India highlighted the importance of strong political commitment, cooperative federalism, robust digital public infrastructure, and community-centred planning to ensure that investments in water security translate into sustainable outcomes for citizens and communities.
India’s participation in World Water Week 2026 reflects the Ministry of Rural Development’s continued commitment to advancing water security as an integral component of rural development, livelihoods, climate resilience and sustainable management of natural resources.
The participation also contributed to the global dialogue on strengthening water security through local planning, technology-enabled governance and community-led action.
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