The Indo-German Science & Technology Centre (IGSTC) held a high-level Strategic Conclave 2026 at Vigyan Bhawan on February 24. The event focused on “Integrated Water Resource Management” (IWRM) and brought together policymakers from both nations to discuss sustainable water governance. A key highlight was the “2+2 model,” which pairs German and Indian academic and industrial partners to develop scalable water technologies.
Discussions centered on the remediation of “emerging chemicals”—pollutants that are often missed by standard treatment processes—and the need for circular water economies. The German Ambassador, H.E. Dr. Philipp Ackermann, reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to supporting India’s climate-resilient water infrastructure through joint research and knowledge exchange.
Community Ownership:
Renowned “Waterman of India” Dr. Rajendra Singh addressed the conclave, advocating for a people-centric approach to water management. He argued that engineering solutions must be paired with traditional water-harvesting wisdom and grassroots participation to be truly sustainable. The conclave concluded with a roadmap for deploying decentralized wastewater treatment systems in rapidly urbanizing Indian cities.
