The Ministry of Jal Shakti and space agency ISRO signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday to strengthen the use of satellite technology and space-based applications for water resource management in the country. According to reports from PTI, the agreement was signed during a national workshop on research and development (R&D) in the water sector organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The partnership represents a significant step forward in leveraging India's space capabilities for water management challenges, marking a significant advancement in India's efforts to strengthen water security through advanced technology, scientific research, and innovation-driven solutions.
Under the MoU, the department of water resources and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will jointly work in 24 key research areas, as reported by PTI. These research areas include reservoir monitoring, water-spread assessment, river-flow analysis, satellite-based water quality assessment and studies on macroplastic distribution in water bodies. The collaboration encompasses remote sensing, hydrology, and environmental monitoring applications that will enable comprehensive water resource management across India's diverse geographical regions. ISRO chairman and department of space secretary V Narayanan emphasized that space technology today offers unprecedented capacity for observing, assessing, forecasting and managing water resources, highlighting the partnership's potential for advanced water management capabilities. The agreement will now expand into new areas such as flood forecasting, groundwater assessment, and integrated water management systems.
Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil emphasized that water security is critical for achieving the goal of 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047 and that water-related challenges must be addressed through technology, innovation, traditional knowledge and public participation. According to PTI, Patil stated that water security is a critical foundation for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Solutions to water-related challenges must be driven by technology, innovation, traditional knowledge and people's participation to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The minister highlighted that water resource management in India involves river basins, reservoirs, groundwater, and water quality monitoring, making satellite technology particularly valuable for comprehensive monitoring and management. Patil also revealed that the ministry had supported more than 113 research projects over the past decade, helping develop practical solutions in the water sector.
Patil also launched the third phase of the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) campaign and announced a target of creating two crore water conservation structures between June 2026 and May 2027. As reported by PTI, he said the previous phase had crossed 1.5 crore structures. The workshop also saw the launch of the mission for advancement in high impact areas (MAHA)-Water programme, a joint initiative of the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), and an open call for startups and MSMEs under the Bharat Water Innovation Network (Bharat WIN) platform. The MAHA-Water programme will support multi-institutional projects involving academic institutions, laboratories, startups and industry partners to accelerate innovation in the water sector, addressing critical challenges through collaborative research projects.
ISRO chairman and department of space secretary V Narayanan highlighted that the partnership will deepen collaboration between the two organisations and strengthen the use of satellite-based applications for water management. According to PTI, Narayanan noted that cooperation between ISRO and the water resources sector dates back to 1982, establishing a long-standing foundation for technological collaboration. ISRO was established in 1969 and functions under the Department of Space, Government of India, bringing decades of space technology expertise to water resource management. ANRF chief executive officer Shivkumar Kalyanaraman explained that the MAHA-Water programme will support multi-institutional projects involving academic institutions, laboratories, startups and industry partners to advance water sector innovation.
