Anusandhan National Research Foundation has launched the ₹200 crore ANRF–Ministry of Jal Shakti MAHA Water Mission, a five-year initiative aimed at accelerating innovation and supporting startups, MSMEs, research institutions, and industry partners working on critical water challenges across India.
Announcing the programme, Jitendra Singh said the mission reflects ANRF’s goal of democratizing research funding by expanding access to grants and innovation opportunities beyond a limited group of established institutions.
Jointly funded by Anusandhan National Research Foundation and Ministry of Jal Shakti, the mission has an outlay of ₹200 crore over five years. Selected multidisciplinary consortia involving universities, national laboratories, startups, MSMEs, and industry partners can receive up to ₹20 crore each for technology development, field validation, and deployment of water-sector solutions.
The MAHA Water Mission will focus on five priority areas:
- Water resource assessment and sustainable management
- Drinking water
- Water quality and ecological health
- Water-use efficiency and circular economy
- Climate resilience and adaptation
The initiative is part of ANRF’s broader Missions for Advancement in High-Impact Areas (MAHA) programme, which also supports innovation in sectors such as electric vehicles, drones, medical technologies, and 6G communications.
During the launch event, C. R. Patil and Dr. Jitendra Singh also announced an open call for proposals and launched a dedicated call for startups and MSMEs to develop products and prototypes addressing India’s water challenges. The programme aims to accelerate the transition of research innovations from laboratories to real-world deployment while strengthening the country’s long-term water security.
