Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the 9th India International Water Week 2026 in New Delhi, calling for coordinated global action on climate-resilient water management.

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• Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the 9th India International Water Week (IIWW) 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on September 22, 2026.
• The Ministry of Jal Shakti is organising the five-day event, running from September 22 to 26, 2026, under the theme "Climate Resilient Water Management."
• The Netherlands and Germany are participating as Partner Countries, alongside fourteen partner states and six central ministries and departments.
• A four-day international exhibition of water-management technologies and solutions is being held alongside the main event until September 25.
• The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation is separately convening the Second International WASH Conference 2026 as part of the week's programme.
• Radhakrishnan said water challenges cannot be addressed by any single institution, sector or state, calling for a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach.
• He noted that India holds about 2.4 percent of the world's land area and 18 percent of its population, but only around 4 percent of global freshwater resources.
• The Vice President highlighted river interlinking as a way to address regions facing floods and drought at the same time.
• He recalled undertaking a 19,000-km Ratha Yatra across Tamil Nadu over two decades ago to raise awareness on river interlinking and water conservation.
• Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Patil and Ministers of State V. Somanna and Raj Bhushan Choudhary attended, along with Central Water Commission Chairman Anupam Prasad.
• The event is being held at the same Bharat Mandapam venue that hosted the 18th BRICS Summit earlier this month.