Executive Summary:
This document summarizes the Indian government's strategic actions for monitoring glaciers and glacial lakes in the Himalayan Region, and steps taken to support data-driven policy formulation for sustainable water resource management. It outlines the roles of various ministries, departments, and institutes in these efforts. The document references data collection and monitoring activities up to July 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Glacier and Glacial Lake Monitoring:
* A Steering Committee on Monitoring of Glaciers, chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR), coordinates glacier monitoring efforts across various ministries and organizations.
* The Central Water Commission (CWC) monitors 902 Glacial Lakes and Water Bodies (GLWBs) greater than 10 Ha in the Himalayan Region of Indian River Basins from June to October annually using remote sensing techniques.
* The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) monitors glaciers and glacial lakes under the National Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Risk Mitigation Programme (NGRMP) in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
* The Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) monitors thirteen glaciers through field observations in the Central Himalaya, Western Himalaya, and Karakoram regions.
* The Geological Survey of India (GSI) monitors glacier recession/advance and conducts mass balance observations in the Indian Himalayan Region.
* The G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (GBPNIHE) studies glaciers in the Himalayan region through field measurements and remote sensing.
* The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) monitors six glaciers in the Chandra basin.
* The National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee, studies the impact of climate change on water resources in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).
Data-Driven Water Resource Management:
* The Ministry of Jal Shakti is undertaking initiatives to enable data-driven approaches for sustainable management of India's water resources.
* The National Hydrology Project (NHP) aims to improve the extent and accessibility of water resources information and create decision support systems.
* The National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC) serves as a central repository for water data and aligns water resource planning with PM Gati Shakti using GIS-based tools.
* The National Aquifer Mapping and Management (NAQUIM) program delineates and characterizes aquifers for sustainable groundwater management.
* The Central Water Commission (CWC) developed a Reservoir Storage Monitoring System and shares weekly bulletins of water storage data with stakeholders.
Impact Analysis:
Ministry of Jal Shakti:
Impact: Responsible for strategic actions in water resource management, monitoring glaciers, and coordinating efforts through various departments and committees.
Action Required: Continue to oversee and coordinate glacier monitoring and data-driven water management initiatives, ensuring effective collaboration among various agencies.
Central Water Commission (CWC):
Impact: Nodal agency for monitoring glacial lakes and water bodies, and for developing a Reservoir Storage Monitoring System.
Action Required: Continue monitoring glacial lakes and water bodies, and disseminate water storage data to stakeholders.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA):
Impact: Monitors glaciers and glacial lakes under the National GLOF Risk Mitigation Programme in specific Himalayan states.
Action Required: Continue implementing and monitoring the NGRMP in the designated states.
Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG):
Impact: Monitors glaciers through field-based observations.
Action Required: Continue field-based glacier monitoring activities in the Central Himalaya, Western Himalaya, and Karakoram regions.
Geological Survey of India (GSI):
Impact: Involved in monitoring glacier recession/advance and conducting mass balance observations.
Action Required: Continue monitoring glacier dynamics and mass balance in the Indian Himalayan Region.
G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (GBPNIHE):
Impact: Involved in glacier studies through field measurements and remote sensing.
Action Required: Continue glacier studies in the Himalayan region.
National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR):
Impact: Monitors glaciers in the Chandra basin.
Action Required: Continue monitoring glaciers in the Chandra basin.
National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee:
Impact: Studies the impact of climate change on water resources in the Indian Himalayan Region.
Action Required: Continue studying the impact of climate change on water resources in the IHR.
State Governments/UTs:
Impact: Implementing agencies for the National Hydrology Project.
Action Required: Collaborate with the NHP to improve water resources information and decision support systems.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Himalayan Region: A geographical region encompassing the Himalayan range within India, crucial for water resources and glacier studies.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The Indian government ministry responsible for water resources, river development, and Ganga rejuvenation.
Central Water Commission: A nodal agency under the Ministry of Jal Shakti responsible for monitoring glacial lakes and water bodies in India.
National Hydrology Project: A World Bank-supported Central Sector Scheme aimed at improving water resources information and decision support systems.
National Water Informatics Centre: A central repository of water data and allied themes, established by the Government of India.
National Disaster Management Authority: A government agency responsible for disaster management, including monitoring glaciers and glacial lakes under the National Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Risk Mitigation Programme.
Himachal Pradesh: A state in India where the National Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Risk Mitigation Programme is implemented.
Uttarakhand: A state in India where the National Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Risk Mitigation Programme is implemented.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1841
ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
1841. SMT. MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH
SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB
SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA
SHRI JASHUBHAI BHILUBHAI RATHVA
SHRI VIJAY KUMAR DUBEY
SHRI BASAVARAJ BOMMAI
SHRI BALABHADRA MAJHI
SHRI BIBHU PRASAD TARAI
SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA
SHRI GODAM NAGESH
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken strategic actions to monitor glaciers and glacial lakes in the Himalayan
Region;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any steps are taken to support data-driven policy formulation for the sustainable management of
India’s water resources; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) & (b) The Government, through various Ministries, Departments and Institutes, has taken strategic and
systematic actions to monitor glaciers and glacial lakes in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).
The Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) has constituted a Steering Committee on ‘Monitoring of Glacier’ under the
Chairmanship of Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation
(DoWR, RD & GR), to monitor and coordinate the work carried out by various ministries and organizations
on the Himalayan glaciers.
The Central Water Commission (CWC) under Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) is the nodal agency for
monitoring glacial lakes and water bodies in India. The CWC presently monitors 902 Glacial Lakes and
Water Bodies (GL&WBs) of size greater than 10 Ha included from Glacial Lake Inventory 2011 prepared by
National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), in the Himalayan Region of Indian River Basins, for the period
June to October every year, using remote sensing techniques.
1The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) also
monitors glaciers and glacial lakes under the National Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Risk Mitigation
Programme (NGRMP), implemented in four Himalayan States, namely, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
The Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), under the Department of Science and Technology
(DST), actively monitors glaciers through field-based observations across the Central Himalaya, Western
Himalaya, and Karakoram regions. Currently, WIHG monitors thirteen glaciers, seven in the Central
Himalaya and six in the Western Himalaya and Karakoram.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI), under the Ministry of Mines, is also involved in monitoring and
measuring glacier recession or advance and conducting mass balance observations of selected glaciers,
particularly in the Indian Himalayan Region.
The G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (GBPNIHE), an autonomous institute of the
Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), is also involved in glacier studies in the
Himalayan region through field measurements and remote sensing approach.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) through its autonomous institute, the National Centre for Polar and
Ocean Research (NCPOR) monitors six glaciers in the Chandra basin (2437 km2 area) in Western Himalaya.
A centre for Cryosphere and Climate Change Studies has been established at National Institute of
Hydrology (NIH), Roorkee with a focus to study the impact of climate change on water resources of the
Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).
(c) & (d) The Ministry of Jal Shakti has undertaken various initiatives to enable data-driven approaches for
the sustainable management of India’s water resources. These efforts aim to improve the availability, quality,
and accessibility of water-related data, thereby supporting scientific planning, efficient resource allocation,
and effective decision-making.
National Hydrology Project (NHP) is a World Bank supported Central Sector Scheme with State/Central
Implementing Agencies. NHP has pan-India coverage with 48 Implementing Agencies from Central
Government and States/ UTs Government, with the objective to improve the extent and accessibility of water
resources information and to create decision support system for flood management, water resources
assessment and planning.
National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC) was set up by the Government of India to act as a central
repository of water data and allied themes. It collects, maintains, updates and disseminates the water data and
information for use by various stakeholders. NWIC is also aligning water resource planning with PM Gati
Shakti using GIS-based tools for better inter-ministerial coordination and spatial planning.
The National Aquifer Mapping and Management (NAQUIM) program, initiated by the Central Ground
Water Board (CGWB), aims to delineate and characterize aquifers across India for sustainable groundwater
management using Scientific data.
Reservoir Storage Monitoring System is developed by Central Water Commission (CWC) for monitoring
water storage in major reservoirs in the country. The weekly bulletin consisting of water storage data is shared
with the stakeholders for planning and informed water release decisions.
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