The 86th Governing Body meeting of the National Institute of Hydrology was convened at NIH Roorkee to review the Institute’s progress and chart its strategic direction. The meeting was chaired by Shri V. L. Kantha Rao, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The deliberations highlighted the expanding role of the National Institute of Hydrology as a premier research organisation addressing critical water challenges, including climate change impacts and sustainable water resource management.
Scaling Research and Impact
During 2024–25, the Institute managed 111 research and development studies and 28 international and national sponsored projects. In alignment with national priorities, it initiated comprehensive assessments in the Luni river basin and undertook extensive monitoring of Western Himalayan glaciers, including the Gangotri, Triloki and Khatling glacier systems.
A major project sponsored by the National Mission for Clean Ganga is currently under way to assess environmental flows for the Chambal, Sone, Damodar and Tons rivers, strengthening river basin management and ecological sustainability.
The Institute continues to advance digital water governance through the development of NIH WISDOM, a web based decision support tool for groundwater recharge estimation and management. This platform is aimed at enabling informed decision making and enhancing groundwater sustainability.
Demonstrating its emphasis on capacity building and knowledge dissemination, the Institute organised 76 training workshops during the year, benefiting more than 1,845 personnel from various sectors. It also hosted the International Ground Water Conference 2025 and a high level workshop on the National Adaptation Plan in association with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Addressing Regional and Emerging Challenges
The Governing Body reviewed progress on several specialised studies addressing region specific and emerging concerns.
In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, research is under way on the technology of historical Japanese wells, along with the development of efficient rainwater harvesting systems suited to island ecosystems.
On water quality, the Institute is investigating the causes of higher nitrate concentrations in groundwater at various locations, an issue with direct implications for public health and agriculture.
Under wetland conservation initiatives, assessments are being carried out to study the impact of climate change on ecologically significant wetlands, including Rewalsar Lake, Badrish Lake and Wular Lake.
To support its expanding research portfolio and laboratory infrastructure, the Institute has proposed a Budget Estimate of ₹6,800.00 lakh for the financial year 2026–27.
The Governing Body reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to evolving into an internationally recognised institution delivering science based solutions for the common man. The discussions emphasised strengthening national water security in line with the vision of the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
