Composite water management index: a tool for water management

The National Institute for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has developed the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) to enable effective water management in Indian states in the face of this growing crisis. The Index and this associated report are expected to: (1) establish a clear baseline and benchmark for state-level performance on key water indicators; (2) uncover and explain how states have progressed on water issues over time, including identifying high-performers and under-performers, thereby inculcating a culture of constructive competition among states; and, (3) identify areas for deeper engagement and investment on the part of the states. Eventually, NITI Aayog plans to develop the index into a composite, national-level data management platform for all water resources in India. The Index is a novel, data-backed approach to water management that will be transformative The Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) is a major step towards creating a culture of databased decision-making for water in India, which can encourage ‘competitive and cooperative federalism’ in the country’s water governance and management. The CWMI is the first comprehensive collection of country-wide water data in India. It is aimed at promoting competitiveness among states, driving them toward effective water governance, and incentivizing improved water management across the country. Further, the close centre-state collaboration involved in the creation and annual updating of the Index is expected to lead to increased federal cooperation in the water sector.