Open call for research proposals and startup participation to be unveiled at national workshop
The government will launch ‘MAHA on Water’ (Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas for Water), a joint initiative of the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), aimed at promoting advanced research and innovation in India’s water sector.
The initiative, announced on Sunday, will focus on priority areas including water resources management, drinking water, climate resilience and water-use efficiency. An open call for research proposals under the mission is set to be unveiled during the ‘National Workshop on R&D in Water’ scheduled for Monday in New Delhi.
According to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the workshop seeks to strengthen India’s water research ecosystem by bringing together stakeholders from government, industry, academia, scientific institutions, startups and technical organisations to accelerate innovation-driven and sustainable water management solutions.
The one-day event will be inaugurated by Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary, and Dr V. Narayanan, Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, ISRO, who also serves as Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology.
In another key announcement, the ministry will launch an open call for startups and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the BHARAT-WIN portal. The initiative aims to support the development of products and prototypes in the water sector, encouraging technology-led solutions and innovation.
The workshop will also witness the launch of ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: Catch the Rain’ (JSJB), a participatory digital platform designed to strengthen community-led water conservation efforts. The platform will enable citizens, institutions and local bodies to document and showcase initiatives related to water conservation, rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge.
Additionally, the Ministry of Jal Shakti and ISRO are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance satellite-based applications and advanced technologies for water resource assessment, monitoring and management. Officials said 24 priority studies and areas of cooperation have already been identified under the proposed partnership.
The workshop will include several technical sessions focusing on groundwater management, irrigation practices, river morphology, floodplain inundation mapping, climate resilience, ecological assessments and the safety of dams and hydraulic structures, among other critical themes.
The initiatives underscore the government’s broader push to strengthen water security through scientific research, digital platforms and collaborative innovation.
