Splash Decisions: Emerging Water Governance Paradigms for a Changing India

India, home to 18% of the global population, possesses just 4% of the world's water resources, making it one of the most water-stressed nations. Climate change, pollution, and an over-reliance on increasingly erratic monsoons have exacerbated the country’s water crisis, manifesting as frequent floods, droughts, and growing inequities in access to water. A significant part of India’s water challenges lies in water quality and its corresponding impacts on health, food security and nutrition. Poor sanitation and hygiene practices have profound and long-lasting impacts on human capital, societal well-being, and economic growth. Addressing these interconnected challenges demands an effective and integrated water management that transcends sectoral silos and fosters nationwide cooperation.
 
The Draft National Water Policy 2020 and Water Vision @2047 initiated by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and National Water Mission under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) mark a vital step in envisioning an integrated water management framework. However, the evolving complexities necessitate a more comprehensive and forward-looking approach to water governance.

This convening seeks to outline the contours of such a holistic policy framework—one that responds to present challenges, anticipates future shocks, aligns with India's developmental aspirations, and contributes to the vision of a "Viksit Bharat" by 2047.

The convening will attempt to answer the following questions: 

1. How do we design the contours of a comprehensive water policy for India keeping in view the present challenges, future shocks and development ambitions of the economy?
2. Are the existing and proposed policy thinking sufficient for combating the forces of climate change and reducing water stress and vulnerabilities for the nation?
3. How does one integrate global best practices and state-of-the-art scientific knowledge with indigenous and traditional knowledge systems for water governance in India?
4. How do the Draft National Water Policy 2020 and the India Water Vision 2047 help the process of augmenting the roadmap for Viksit Bharat 2047?

Programme