Agri-Tech and Water-Tech Startups: NITI Aayog’s Advice

Why in the news

A NITI Aayog programme director told startups in farming and water technology that simple fixes are not enough. They should use advanced tools to win new markets and clear regulatory and maturity hurdles.

Key facts

• Speaker: Himanshu Joshi, Programme Director, NITI Aayog.
• Event: Nasscom Deeptech Confluence 2026 on Agri and Water Tech.
• Message: go beyond basic problem-solving; adopt advanced technology.
• Basis: NITI Aayog’s bilateral collaboration programmes, such as the one with Denmark.

Examples cited

• A global water-tech startup stayed longer in India after seeing chances to test its technology in local conditions, with markets across the Global South in view.
• An agri-drone startup first spotted coconuts ready for harvest in Lakshadweep, then added AI for ideal harvest timing and disease risk.
• Both were foreign firms that improvised and found new uses.

Background terms

• Agri-tech: technology for productivity, sustainability, market access and farmer incomes, e.g. precision farming, drones, satellite monitoring, AI.
• Water-tech: treatment and recycling, smart irrigation, leak detection, desalination, groundwater monitoring, wastewater management, smart metering.
• Deep-tech: built on scientific or engineering breakthroughs such as AI, robotics, IoT, biotech and quantum computing.
• Water-tech is described as less developed in India but with rising demand from water stress, urbanisation and industry.

About NITI Aayog and AIM

• NITI Aayog: premier policy think tank of the Government of India, set up on 1 January 2015 replacing the Planning Commission; Prime Minister is Chairperson; based in New Delhi.
• Functions: long-term policy, cooperative and competitive federalism, knowledge hub, monitoring and evaluation, bilateral and multilateral collaboration.
• Atal Innovation Mission: Atal Tinkering Labs (schools), Atal Incubation Centres (startups), Atal Community Innovation Centres (underserved regions), Atal New India Challenges (products), ARISE (MSMEs).

Exam angle

• NITI Aayog is an executive body formed by Cabinet resolution, not a constitutional body.
• Nasscom: National Association of Software and Service Companies, founded 1988.