Govt launches Rs 200 crore MAHA Water Mission to support startups
New Delhi, June 1
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation and the Ministry of Jal Shakti will jointly run a MAHA Water Mission, a Rs 200 crore programme launched on Monday, to support startups in the water sector.
Dr Jitendra Singh, Union MoS for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences launched the mission which will provide up to Rs 20 crore to selected multidisciplinary consortia.
The funds can be used for technology development, field assessment, validation and deployment of high‑impact water solutions.
The consortia can consist of universities, national laboratories, research organisations, startups, MSMEs and industry partners.
The MAHA Water Mission has been conceived as a national platform to accelerate innovation in the water sector by connecting science, entrepreneurship, industry, academia and grassroots action.
The mission flyer was released followed by an open call for Startups and MSMEs for Product and Prototype Development proposals.
The mission will focus on five priority themes- water resource assessment and sustainable management; drinking water; water quality and ecological health; water use efficiency and circular economy; climate resilience and adaptation.
It aims to support innovations from laboratory research to field deployment while generating scalable and localised solutions for strengthening India's long-term water security.
The event also witnessed the signing of an MoU between the Department of Water Resources and the Department of Space/ISRO, besides the launch of the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari, Citizen Tracking and Reporting (JSJB-CTR) Portal and App.
Dr Singh today said that the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) is democratising research funding by expanding opportunities for startups, MSMEs, universities and innovators. ANRF, ensures that national missions, scientific resources and innovation support are no longer confined to a limited number of institutions, he added.
He said the foundation is widening access to resources, partnerships and mission-oriented research opportunities, enabling institutions and innovators from across the country to contribute to national priorities.
The minister said ANRF has already launched missions for advancement in high-impact areas (maha) in strategic sectors including electric vehicles, drones, medical technologies, 6G communications and water.
These missions are creating an integrated pathway from fundamental research to technology development, validation and deployment while bringing together academia, industry, startups and government institutions to solve critical national challenges.
India's startup ecosystem has grown from 350-400 firms a decade ago to over two lakh startups, generating nearly 20-24 lakh jobs.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is fantastic news for startups in the water sector! The fact that funds can go up to Rs 20 crore for consortia is a game-changer. Love that they're linking academia, industry, and grassroots action. Hope the selection process is transparent and not just for big names in metros. Jal hi jeevan hai! 💧
Good initiative but let's be honest – Rs 200 crore for a country like India with hundreds of water-stressed districts is just a drop in the ocean. The real challenge is implementation. I hope ISRO's involvement via the MoU means better data for groundwater mapping. Would love to see startups focus on affordable solutions for village-level water purification.
As someone who works in water tech, this is exciting! The five priority themes cover all the key areas. The 'lab to field' approach is exactly what we need – too many good solutions die before reaching users. Just hope the application process isn't too complex for smaller startups from smaller towns.
MAHA Water Mission? Sounds promising but I'm cautiously optimistic. We've seen many such missions announced with great fanfare but ground reality remains same. What India needs is not just funding but better water governance and community participation. That said, the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari portal could be a good step for citizen tracking. Let's hope this time it's different. 🤞
Brilliant! Linking water with technology and startups is the way forward. The fact that ANRF is democratising research
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