Water Policy Briefing is a periodical that translates research and technical analyses on water resources in India into practical and actionable solutions, as a contribution to the policy discussion at the National, State and Local levels.

The Briefing is written with top-level policymakers in mind. Each issue summarizes a work of completed and reviewed research - on an aspect of water management in India, produced by Indian researchers, often with colleagues from other countries.

In support of each Briefing is a technical background paper that presents the details of the research, for a more technical audience. All technical background papers are published on this website.Read and download technical background papers here.

The Briefing begins publication in January 2002 and will appear at least 8 times in a year.

The initial issues of Water Policy Briefing will cover the following topics:

• Innovations in Groundwater Recharge
• Wells and Welfare in the Ganga Basin
• Smallholder community irrigation in Jharkhand
• Issues in rehabilitating tanks
• North Gujarat Sustainable Groundwater Initiative
• Wastewater economy of peri-urban Vadodara

Now available

New! Improving Water Productivity: How do we get more crop from every drop ?
	Agriculture currently consumes 70% of the world's developed fresh water supplies. By improving the productivity of water used for agriculture by 40%, it is possible to reduce the amount of additional freshwater withdrawals needed to feed the world's growing population to 0. What steps can policy makers take now? And where should we invest in research for the future? Download pdf 481 kb requires Adobe Acrobat™

New! Pro-Poor Irrigation Management Transfer ?
	A growing body of international findings shows that irrigation management transfer can actually contribute to rural poverty by aggravating existing inequities within irrigation schemes or introducing new ones. New research looks at how the transfer of irrigation management from governments to farmers can be done in a way that benefits poor farmers. Download pdf 191 kb requires Adobe Acrobat™

New! Building High-Performance Knowledge Institutions for Water Management
	Many Indian water management institutions are failing to live up to their original promise. By allowing these institutions to stagnate, we risk the loss of a vitally important tool for research and policy making. Recent research has identified traits that set high-performance institutions apart from those failing to deliver. By applying these concepts to lower performance institutions, India can make good its initial investments and create world-class institutions for research, policy formation and development. Download pdf 304 kb requires Adobe Acrobat™

The Socio-Ecology of Groundwater in India
	Recent research shows that groundwater irrigation has surpassed surface irrigation as the primary source of food production and income generation in many rural areas.The key question for policy makers and planners is how to tap this resource without exhausting the supply.The mind-set and water management skills need to shift from resource development to resource planning. Download pdf 1,119kb requires Adobe Acrobat™

The Challenges of Integrated River Basin Management in India
	The idea of transferring 'ready-made' Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) solutions from Australia, North America and Europe to India and other developing countries holds great appeal for policy makers, donors and social researchers. But a review of actual experience suggests that effective solutions need to be tailored to fit the realities of Indian basins. Download pdf 222kb requires Adobe Acrobat™

Wells and Welfare in the Ganga Basin
	Giving the poor better access to groundwater irrigation: Sustainable approaches and options for eastern India. What can States learn from the tube-well programs created in eastern Uttar Pradesh and north Bihar? Read Now!

Innovations in Groundwater Recharge
	The operation of large canal irrigation systems in the Indo-Gangetic Plain and similar hydro-geological areas can be modified to recharge groundwater on a vast scale. This reduces the need for new dams and other storage structures.The results of a 10-year study in Uttar Pradesh show that surplus monsoon water can be used to recharge underground aquifers and simultaneously provide farmers with better crop security. Read Now!