Abstract
China’s expanding hydropower infrastructure and strategic control over the upper Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo) pose escalating geopolitical and environmental challenges for India. This research note evaluates China’s dam-building activities between 2021–2025 and their implications for regional water security, hydrological stability, and cross-border diplomacy. Highlighting the absence of formal water-sharing agreements and limited data transparency, the study calls for India to pivot from reactive postures to adaptive, multilateral governance. Recommendations include leveraging Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA), enhancing hydrological monitoring, and decentralizing river governance to build long-term resilience and regional cooperation.
