This research note analyzes India’s evolving strategy (2021–2025) toward the Brahmaputra River, integrating national security, development planning, and traditional ecological knowledge. It explores how frameworks like SAGAR Vision, Sagarmala, and Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) shape India’s river governance. The study highlights India’s effort to balance geopolitical pressures, infrastructure modernization, and indigenous resilience under increasing climate and institutional challenges.
"
1. Strategic Expansion under SAGAR Vision: India extends its maritime strategy inland, linking riverine security and sovereignty with the Brahmaputra’s hydropolitical importance amid China’s upstream activities.
2. Development through Sagarmala & NW-2: Major infrastructure investments enhance navigation and trade connectivity but raise environmental and ecological concerns about sediment and biodiversity disruption.
3. Value of Indigenous Knowledge: Traditional practices of communities like the Mising tribe demonstrate adaptive resilience to floods, offering vital lessons often overlooked in mainstream flood management.
4. Toward Integrated Governance: Persistent institutional fragmentation and climate vulnerabilities demand a unified basin management framework guided by UDA principles, emphasizing data transparency and community participation.
Research Intern, MRC