Centre signs agreement with ISRO, rolls out new water research initiatives
Mangalore Today News Network
New Delhi, Jun 1, 2026: The Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the use of satellite technology and space-based applications for effective water resource management across the country.
The agreement was signed during the 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.
Under the partnership, the Department of Water Resources and ISRO will collaborate on 24 priority research areas, including reservoir monitoring, water-spread assessment, river-flow analysis, satellite-based water quality monitoring, and studies on macroplastic distribution in water bodies.
Addressing the workshop, Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil stressed that water security is essential for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He said challenges related to water management must be tackled through a combination of technology, innovation, traditional knowledge, and public participation.
Patil noted that the ministry had supported 113 directly sponsored research projects over the past decade, helping develop practical solutions for the water sector.
The minister 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. He said more than 1.5 crore such structures had been created during the previous phase of the initiative.
The workshop also marked 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). Additionally, an open call was announced for startups and MSMEs under the Bharat Water Innovation Network (Bharat WIN) platform.
ISRO Chairman and Department of Space Secretary V. Narayanan said the MoU would strengthen cooperation between the two organisations and expand the use of satellite-based technologies in water management.
“Space technology today offers unprecedented capabilities for observing, assessing, forecasting and managing water resources,” Narayanan said.
He added that the collaboration would support groundwater assessment, water resource monitoring, and flood forecasting, noting that cooperation between ISRO and the water resources sector dates back to 1982.
ANRF Chief Executive Officer Shivkumar Kalyanaraman said the MAHA-Water programme would promote multi-institutional research projects involving academic institutions, laboratories, startups, and industry partners.