India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti has begun the 9th India International Water Week 2026, a five-day conference running from 22 to 26 September in New Delhi. Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the event, which focuses on climate-resilient water management and brings together government officials, international partners, researchers, industry leaders and community representatives from India and abroad.
What the event covers
The conference is organised around the theme “Climate Resilient Water Management” and includes several parallel platforms for discussion and knowledge exchange. The Netherlands and Germany are participating as partner countries, alongside 14 Indian States and two Central Ministries.
Key components include:
- Ministerial Plenary sessions on country perspectives and climate-resilient water management
- Global Water Leaders’ plenaries on topics such as integrated management of water, food and energy, and sustainable urban river management
- The Second International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Conference running concurrently
- An international exhibition showcasing water management technologies and solutions
- Country forums, practitioners’ forums, startup forums and youth forums
The Vice-President highlighted achievements under Jal Jeevan Mission, a drinking water access scheme, noting that rural tap water coverage in Jharkhand rose from 7 percent to 37 percent. The Union Minister of Jal Shakti emphasised major government initiatives including Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari, Namami Gange, Atal Bhujal Yojana and the Ken-Betwa Link Project.
Two publications were launched: “Sustainable Urban River Management Framework” and “AI and ML Driven Integrated Reservoir Sediment Management.” Five Urban River Management Plans were also unveiled during the opening day.
What this means for you
The conference reflects India’s policy direction on water security in an era of climate change. If you work in water management, agriculture, urban planning or environmental sectors, this event signals growing emphasis on integrating technology, data and community participation into water solutions. For ordinary citizens, the focus on Jal Jeevan Mission and drinking water access suggests continued government attention to expanding safe water supply to rural households. The emphasis on international cooperation and knowledge exchange may lead to new technologies and practices being adopted in Indian water management over the coming years.