₹200-Crore ANRF-MAHA Water Mission Launched to Boost Innovation in Water Sector

The programme is expected to strengthen India's long-term water security through science-driven and technology-enabled solutions.

The Government of India has launched the ₹200-crore Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)–Ministry of Jal Shakti MAHA Water Mission, a major initiative aimed at accelerating innovation, research and entrepreneurship in the water sector. The mission seeks to bring together startups, MSMEs, universities, research institutions and industry partners to develop practical solutions for India's growing water challenges.

The mission was launched by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, and Union Minister for Jal Shakti, C.R. Patil, during the National Workshop on Research and Development in Water held in New Delhi. The programme is expected to strengthen India's long-term water security through science-driven and technology-enabled solutions.

ANRF Expands Research Opportunities Beyond Elite Institutions

Speaking at the event, Dr Jitendra Singh said the Anusandhan National Research Foundation was created to democratise research funding and ensure that innovation opportunities are available to a wider range of institutions and entrepreneurs.

He noted that for many years, a significant portion of research funding was concentrated among a limited number of established institutions, leaving smaller universities, startups and emerging innovators with fewer opportunities. ANRF aims to address this imbalance by expanding access to research resources, partnerships and mission-driven funding programmes.

According to the minister, the foundation has emerged as a national platform for innovation and has already launched Missions for Advancement in High-Impact Areas (MAHA) in sectors such as electric vehicles, drones, medical technologies, 6G communications and water.

These missions are designed to bridge the gap between laboratory research and real-world deployment by connecting academia, industry, startups and government agencies to solve national challenges through collaborative innovation.

Water Mission to Support Startups and Technology Development

The newly launched MAHA Water Mission will operate with a projected outlay of ₹200 crore over five years, jointly funded by ANRF and the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Under the programme, multidisciplinary consortia involving universities, national laboratories, research organisations, startups, MSMEs and industry partners will be eligible for support. Selected projects can receive funding of up to ₹20 crore for technology development, field testing, validation and deployment of innovative solutions.

The mission will focus on five priority areas:

• Water Resource Assessment and Sustainable Management

• Drinking Water

• Water Quality and Ecological Health

• Water Use Efficiency and Circular Economy

• Climate Resilience and Adaptation

Officials said the programme will support innovations from the research stage through to field implementation, ensuring that promising technologies can be scaled up to address real-world water challenges across the country.

Technology and Collaboration at the Heart of Water Security

Dr Jitendra Singh said the mission aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of using science, technology and innovation to address developmental priorities. He highlighted that the creation of the Ministry of Jal Shakti brought water-related functions under a unified national framework and elevated water security as a key policy priority.

The minister stressed that future water management will increasingly depend on collaboration among scientific institutions, industry, startups and grassroots stakeholders.

During the event, an important Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Department of Water Resources and the Department of Space/ISRO. The partnership is expected to enhance the use of satellite technologies, geospatial tools and scientific data for water resource mapping, groundwater assessment, irrigation planning and infrastructure development.

Dr Singh added that future collaborations involving the Departments of Earth Sciences and Biotechnology, as well as CSIR laboratories and other scientific organisations, would further strengthen India's capacity to address water-related challenges through advanced technologies.

Mission Supports India's Growing Innovation Ecosystem

Highlighting India's innovation growth, Dr Jitendra Singh noted that the country's startup ecosystem has expanded from around 350–400 startups a decade ago to more than two lakh startups today, creating nearly 20–24 lakh jobs.

He said programmes such as the MAHA Water Mission will help channel entrepreneurial talent toward solving national problems while creating new opportunities for employment, research and economic growth.

Alongside the mission launch, the government announced an Open Call for Startups and MSMEs focused on product and prototype development in the water sector. Authorities also launched the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Citizen Tracking and Reporting (JSJB-CTR) Portal and mobile application to strengthen public participation in water conservation efforts.

Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil described water security as fundamental to India's development goals and emphasised the need for stronger integration of research, innovation and citizen participation in water management.

Officials believe the MAHA Water Mission will play a crucial role in generating scalable, indigenous and technology-driven solutions that support sustainable water management, climate resilience and long-term water security for the country.