Emergent Scenario of Water Resources in India: Aspects of Fundamental Research and Societal Relevance

Beyond the widely debated issues of water scarcity and pollution, an emergent hydrological scenario is unfolding, marked by weather extremes and uncertainties that exceed historical limits. Hydrologically mediated disasters—such as floods, droughts, cloudbursts, cyclonic storms, heat waves, hailstorms, megacryometeors, coastal inundations, glacial lake outbursts, and landslides—are increasingly devastating vulnerable populations and directly influence the availability of water across space and time. In this context, water resources must be understood not merely as groundwater or surface water for consumption, but as water in all physical states, spatial domains, and Earth system components, forming an integrated resource. The resulting challenge extends beyond scarcity and pollution to the complex task of understanding processes that redistribute water in space and time and anticipating their hazardous consequences. This seminar will provide an overview of the emerging hydrological scenario and highlight key themes for basic and societal research relevant to scholars and faculty.