India International Water Week 2026 Conference
The 9th edition of India International Water Week (IIWW) 2026 was held from 22–26 September 2026 in New Delhi, organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti with the theme "Climate Resilient Water Management." The event brought together representatives from six Union Ministries and 16 States and Union Territories, with invitations extended to 150 countries and 11 countries expected to join as partner countries. The program featured 49 focused sessions covering various water-sector themes, including ministerial plenaries, a youth forum, and dedicated start-up forums.
Conference Sub-Themes and Focus Areas
Discussions centered on seven sub-themes: Inclusive and Equitable Water Governance; Collaboration for Optimal Use of Water Resources; Technology and Community for Water Security; Water in Climate-Related Risk; Innovative Financing Models for Water Infrastructure and Modernization; Sustainable Water Resources Management; and Water for People and Planet.
Government Water Conservation Initiatives
Over the past decade, the Government has implemented multiple water conservation measures including Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain, Atal Bhujal Yojana, Mission Amrit Sarovar, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari, and NAQUIM 2.0. These efforts have resulted in increased groundwater recharge, with total annual groundwater recharge rising from 432 billion cubic metres (BCM) in 2017 to 448.52 BCM in 2025.
State-Level Water Management Case Studies
Balod District, Chhattisgarh: Under Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 2.0, the district created 2.84 lakh recharge structures between June 2025 and May 2026, including check dams, recharge pits, and contour trenches. The rejuvenation of the 14.3-km Tawera Nala involved creating 6,250 water conservation structures, expected to conserve 6.5 crore litres of additional rainwater and improve groundwater levels by 5–10 feet.
Khowai, Tripura: The district engaged more than 6,000 Self-Help Group women in community mobilization and water-quality testing using Field Testing Kits (FTKs). School Water Clubs train students in basic water-quality testing. The district implemented geo-tagged monitoring, third-party quality audits, and regular District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM) and DISHA meetings. All 860 Anganwadi centres have rainwater-harvesting structures.
Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh: Under the "Dhara se Dharohar Tak" campaign, the Ban River was revived across nearly 42 kilometres and the Sot River across around 17 kilometres, resulting in improved groundwater levels in Amroha. The approach extended to rivers in neighbouring districts including the Malan in Bijnor and the Hiranyavati in Kushinagar. Community participation included Gram Sabha-based monitoring, Pani ki Pathshala sessions, and women-led water-quality testing.
Odisha: Through the Catch the Rain 2026 campaign, the state conducted 968 Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities using street plays, folk performances, and community programmes. The state created 905 water harvesting structures including 849 rooftop rainwater-harvesting structures and 56 recharge shafts. In Jajpur, 45 recharge shafts were constructed, and 98 tanks across all 30 districts were taken up for renovation and desilting.