MAHA Water Mission: ₹200-Crore Outlay for Water Sector Innovation

Key facts

• The Government of India launched the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)–Ministry of Jal Shakti MAHA Water Mission with a projected outlay of ₹200 crore over five years.
• The mission is jointly funded by ANRF and the Ministry of Jal Shakti to accelerate innovation, research, and entrepreneurship in the water sector.
• Multidisciplinary consortia involving universities, national laboratories, startups, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) can receive funding up to ₹20 crore for technology development, field testing, and deployment.
• The mission focuses on five priority areas: Water Resource Assessment and Sustainable Management, Drinking Water, Water Quality and Ecological Health, Water Use Efficiency and Circular Economy, and Climate Resilience and Adaptation.
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Department of Water Resources and the Department of Space/Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to enhance the use of satellite technologies and geospatial tools for water resource mapping and groundwater assessment.
• The government launched the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Citizen Tracking and Reporting (JSJB-CTR) Portal and mobile application to strengthen public participation in water conservation efforts.