MAHA Water Mission: Rs.200-Crore Water Innovation Push
Why in the news
Two Union ministers jointly started a national mission to spur new thinking in the water sector. It aims to move lab research quickly into real-world use.
Key facts
- MAHA = Missions for Advancement in High-impact Areas.
- Outlay: Rs.200 crore spread across five years.
- Grant: up to Rs.20 crore for each consortium.
- Goal: a joined-up path covering technology development, validation and commercialisation of water solutions.
- Launched by Dr Jitendra Singh together with the Union Minister of Jal Shakti.
Three partners and their roles
| Partner | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) | Funds and coordinates research |
| Ministry of Jal Shakti | Nodal water ministry with on-ground reach |
| Department of Space / ISRO | Satellite and geospatial data for water mapping |
Five priority themes
- Water resource assessment and sustainable management
- Drinking water: quality and access
- Water quality and ecological health
- Water use efficiency and circular economy
- Climate resilience and adaptation
Why ISRO is involved
- Space-based data supports mapping of water resources, planning of watersheds, studying river flows, tracking reservoirs and judging climate-water links.
Background: citizen participation
- Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari is a Jal Shakti ministry initiative under Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain, centred on rainwater harvesting, conservation and reviving traditional water bodies.
- The JSJB-CTR Portal and App lets citizens track and report conservation work, gives real-time monitoring of water bodies, harvesting structures and recharge projects, and feeds data to research and policy.
Exam angle
- Full form: MAHA = Missions for Advancement in High-impact Areas.
- Nodal ministry: Jal Shakti; research funder: ANRF; data partner: ISRO.
- Numbers: Rs.200 crore, five years, Rs.20 crore per consortium.