The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, participated in World Water Week 2026 held in Stockholm, Sweden from August 25, 2026, showcasing India's community-led water security and rural development initiatives at this global forum organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).
Ms. Rohini R. Bhajibhakre, Joint Secretary of the Ministry, represented India and presented the country's comprehensive water security framework during the session titled "National Initiative on Water Security: Translating National Water Visions to Reality: What Works?" convened by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
India's Water Vision @2047, aligned with Viksit Bharat @2047, aims to ensure resilient, inclusive and sustainable water security through integrated planning, technological innovation and community participation. The framework is implemented through flagship initiatives including Jal Jeevan Mission for rural drinking water access and the National Initiative on Water Security (NIWS) for water conservation investments. NIWS specifically prioritizes expenditure on water-related works based on groundwater conditions across blocks, directing investments toward water-stressed regions through objective and transparent planning mechanisms.
The Ministry highlighted that the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 identifies water security as a key focus area, promoting convergence between employment generation, livelihood enhancement, natural resource management and creation of durable community assets.
India showcased several technology platforms supporting water security initiatives: Yuktdhara Geospatial Planning Platform leverages GIS and remote sensing for evidence-based planning; E-Jal Application facilitates data-driven water budgeting at Gram Panchayat level by integrating water resources, rainfall, groundwater and population data; E-Saksham Learning Platform strengthens capacity building; and digital dashboards including VBGRAMG Soft, SECURE and BhuGRAM enable real-time implementation tracking, financial management and monitoring across rural development programmes.
The approach emphasizes empowering Gram Panchayats, Village Water and Sanitation Committees and local communities in planning, implementation, operation and maintenance of water-related infrastructure, supported by community participation, social accountability mechanisms and digital monitoring systems.
On August 25, 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," where India highlighted the importance of strong political commitment, cooperative federalism, robust digital public infrastructure and community-centered planning for sustainable water security outcomes.