9th India International Water Week 2026 Inauguration
The Ministry of Jal Shakti inaugurated the 9th India International Water Week on September 22, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with the theme "Climate Resilient Water Management." The five-day event (September 22-26) represents a significant evolution from previous India Water Week editions to India International Water Week, reflecting increased global engagement and the importance of international cooperation in addressing shared water challenges.
Key Participants and International Collaboration
The event features participation from the Netherlands and Germany as partner countries, along with 14 partner States and two Central Ministries. Notable attendees included Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri C R Patil, Ministers of State for Jal Shakti Shri V. Somanna and Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary, along with senior officials including Secretary of Drinking Water and Sanitation Shri Ashok K.K. Meena and Secretary of Water Resources Smt. Archana Verma. International representation included the Vice Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation of Venezuela Ms. Yesenia Carolina Moreno Gerdel, Danish Ambassador H.E. Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, Dutch Ambassador Ms. Marisa Gerards, World Bank South Asia Regional Director Ms. Mara K. Warwick, and IUCN Water Global Director Mr. James Dalton.
Initiatives and Publications Launched
During the inauguration, the Vice-President launched two significant publications: "Sustainable Urban River Management Framework" and "AI and ML Driven Integrated Reservoir Sediment Management." The event also recognized grassroots Water Warriors, including Mrs. Ram Kumari from Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, for mobilizing women and communities around drinking water availability and conservation efforts benefiting approximately 225 families, and Shri Sitaram Madavi of Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, for over two decades of work on water conservation developing wells, farm ponds, and other interventions that improved groundwater availability and irrigation access.
Programmatic Focus and Thematic Sessions
The event includes multiple plenary sessions and forums addressing critical water management aspects. The Ministerial Plenary on "Country Perspectives on Climate Resilient Water Management" focused on moving beyond reactive water management toward systems capable of anticipating risks, adapting to change, and recovering from climate extremes. Discussions covered climate-informed infrastructure, flood and drought management, digital hydrology, early warning systems, nature-based solutions, water-use efficiency, and institutional capacity.
Global Water Leaders' Plenary I addressed the integrated management of Water, Food & Energy, highlighting interdependence and the importance of a nexus approach for climate-resilient development. Discussions covered irrigation efficiency, water productivity, micro-irrigation, solar-powered irrigation, digital monitoring, precision agriculture, and data-driven decision making.
Global Water Leaders' Plenary II focused on the Global River Cities Alliance and sustainable management of urban rivers, featuring the launch of five Urban River Management Plans. The concurrently organized Second International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Conference 2026 includes three thematic sessions covering: (i) Water Supply Systems: Operations & Maintenance, Infrastructure and Source Sustainability; (ii) Water Quality, Safety and Emerging Contaminants; and (iii) Climate Resilience, Nature-Based Solutions and Sanitation.
Technology and International Cooperation Emphasis
Union Minister Shri C R Patil highlighted India's cooperation with Venezuela, the Netherlands, and Denmark, and emphasized the role of multilateral institutions including the World Bank and IUCN. He called for deeper collaboration in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, information technology, remote sensing, joint research, capacity building, and demonstration projects. The event includes an international exhibition (September 22-25) showcasing technologies, products, and practical solutions for sustainable and climate-resilient water management.
Day One concluded with Country Forum I on "Joint Indo-Danish Solutions for Sustainable Water Management," exploring opportunities in urban flooding and stormwater management, climate-induced extremes, digital decision-support systems, space technology, drones, robotics, and advanced survey solutions.
The event aims to facilitate networking, institutional and business tie-ups, technology partnerships, joint research, knowledge exchange, capacity building, and collaboration among governments, international organizations, academia, industry, start-ups, and communities to translate dialogue into actionable recommendations and scalable solutions for water security and climate resilience.