TERI’s 5th Water Sustainability Awards Spotlight Innovation, Inclusion and Water Security
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) hosted the 5th Water Sustainability Awards 2025–26 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, recognising organisations, institutions, industries, communities and individuals for their contributions to sustainable water management. The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, development agencies and civil society representatives to highlight innovative and scalable approaches to water conservation and water security.
The awards recognised initiatives across water conservation, water-use efficiency, wastewater treatment and safe reuse, groundwater recharge, pollution control, watershed management, participatory water management and climate-resilient water solutions. The programme also emphasised the importance of moving successful interventions from individual projects to wider adoption and replication.
Water Security Requires Collective Action
Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary, Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Government of India, inaugurated the awards ceremony and presented the awards to the recognised organisations, institutions, industries, urban local bodies, communities and individuals.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Choudhary highlighted the importance of public participation and collective responsibility in addressing India's water challenges and said, “The success of India’s water movement lies in Jan Bhagidari. When governments, communities, industries, and citizens come together, every drop conserved becomes a step towards a water-secure India.”
He emphasised that water is fundamental to health, food security, livelihoods, economic growth and environmental sustainability. As India moves towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, he called for greater adoption of rainwater harvesting, efficient irrigation, industrial water reuse and responsible water consumption.
From ‘Use and Dispose’ to Recycle and Reuse
In her special address, Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI, stressed the need for science-based policies, technological innovation and collaborative approaches to address growing water demand and resource pressures. Dr Dhawan emphasised, “With a growing population and increasing water demand, we can no longer follow a 'use and dispose' approach. Every drop of treated wastewater is a valuable resource that must be recycled and reused. Every drop saved today is an investment in tomorrow,”
Dr Dhawan also called for agriculture, industry and urban development to recognise water as a precious national asset and use it responsibly.The message is particularly relevant to India's growing focus on wastewater recycling and reuse, resource recovery, water-use efficiency and reducing dependence on freshwater sources.
Water at the Heart of Sustainable Development
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Angela Lusigi, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), highlighted the interconnectedness of water with global sustainable development priorities: “Water is the common thread that connects all the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Dr Lusigi noted that floods, droughts and other climate extremes are increasing the urgency of strengthening water security. She stressed that strong institutions, sound policies and evidence-based decision-making will be critical to achieving sustainable water governance.
She also highlighted the partnership between the Ministry of Jal Shakti, TERI and UNDP as an example of collaborative engagement between government, research institutions and development partners to develop innovative, inclusive and scalable approaches to water security.
Recognising Excellence Across the Water Sector
The Water Sustainability Awards span eight broad areas: Water for All; Sanitation for All; Wastewater Treatment and Safe Reuse; Excellence in Water Use Efficiency; Excellence in Participatory Water Management; Protection and Restoration of Community Water Structures; Promoting Water Cooperation; and Innovation in Water Technology.
Among this year's recognised organisations were Gramodaya Samajik Sansthan, Shree Cement Limited (Beawar), Delhi International Airport Limited, NTPC North Karanpura, Lauritz Knudsen Electrical and Automation, DHAN Vayalagam (Tank) Foundation, ABIS Foods and Proteins Private Limited, Shriram Institute for Industrial Research, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited and Arghyam.
The Water Champion (Individual) award was presented to Shri Laxman of Gram Vikas Navyuvak Mandal Laporiya (GVNML) for his contribution to community-led water conservation and stewardship. Several runners-up and appreciation awardees were also recognised.
The awards reflect the increasingly interconnected nature of water management, where technological solutions need to be complemented by efficient consumption, community participation, ecosystem restoration, effective institutions and cooperation among stakeholders
Gender and Water Security Take Centre Stage
A key component of the programme was the high-level panel discussion on ‘Gender and Water Security: Bridging Gaps for an Equitable Future’.
The session examined the relationship between gender, water security and climate resilience, with particular emphasis on strengthening women's participation in water governance and decision-making.
Shri Bharat Lal, Former Secretary General, National Human Rights Commission; Former Director General, National Centre for Good Governance; Former Secretary, Lokpal of India; and Founder Mission Director, Jal Jeevan Mission, delivered the keynote address.
He emphasised the need for women to have a meaningful role in decisions affecting water resources and governance.
“Every woman must have a voice in decisions that shape our water future. Meaningful participation of women from households to policymaking is fundamental to inclusive and effective water governance.”
He further highlighted the close relationship between gender equality, water security and climate resilience, noting that women and vulnerable communities are often disproportionately affected by water scarcity, floods, droughts and climate change.
The discussion was moderated by Ms Anupama Madhok, Director & Editor, Water Digest, and featured Mrs Nigam Agarwal, Director (Environment), Government of NCT of Delhi; Ms Noa Amsalem, Water Attaché, Embassy of Israel in India; Dr Swati Singh, Adaptation Analyst, Action for Climate and Environment, UNDP; Ms Anjali Makhija, Trustee & Chief Executive Officer, Sehgal Foundation; and Dr Ranjana Ray Chaudhuri, Associate Professor & Head, Department of Regional Water Studies, TERI School of Advanced Studies.
The panellists discussed the need to mainstream gender considerations into water policy, institutional frameworks, research and technology, while strengthening women's participation from household and community levels through to formal governance and policymaking.
Empowering Women for Water Security
Mr Anshuman, Director, Water Resources, TERI, while outlining the objectives of the Water Sustainability Awards, also highlighted women's role in advancing water security.
“Empowering women is one of the most effective pathways to achieving water security. When women lead, communities become more resilient, resources are managed more sustainably, and development becomes more inclusive.”
He stressed the importance of ensuring that women have not only responsibility for managing water resources but also an equal voice in shaping water policies and governance frameworks.
Scaling Solutions for a Water-Secure India
The 5th Water Sustainability Awards highlighted the need to move beyond isolated success stories and enable the replication and scaling of proven solutions.
India's water sector is facing increasing pressure from urbanisation, industrial growth, groundwater depletion, pollution and climate variability. Against this backdrop, the event reinforced the importance of solutions that are innovative, measurable, inclusive and capable of being replicated at scale.
By combining recognition with knowledge exchange and policy dialogue, the Water Sustainability Awards provided a platform for stakeholders across government, industry, research, development and civil society to share experiences and identify pathways for wider adoption of sustainable water practices.
The 5th edition ultimately underscored a central message for India's water sector: securing the country's water future will require collective action, responsible water use, wastewater reuse, technological innovation, inclusive governance and the scaling of solutions that work on the ground.