This research note explores how China’s upstream dam projects on the Brahmaputra River impact India’s water security and regional stability. It highlights issues like limited data sharing, environmental risks, and weak cooperation mechanisms. The study urges India to strengthen monitoring, diplomacy, and adaptive governance using tools like the Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) framework to ensure sustainable and secure river management.
1. China’s Upstream Dominance: Construction of the 60 GW Medog dam and other hydropower projects gives China major hydrological leverage over downstream nations.
2. Environmental & Geopolitical Risks: Dams threaten sediment flow, increase flood risk, and amplify “hydro-hegemony” concerns affecting India and Bangladesh.
3. India’s Strategic Gaps: Limited hydrological infrastructure, weak coordination, and reactive diplomacy hinder India’s response to upstream activities.
4. Adaptive Path Forward: Recommends UDA-based basin monitoring, regional cooperation, and data-driven, ecosystem-based water governance for long-term resilience.
Research Intern, MRC