Abstract
This research note critically examines India’s evolving approach to the Brahmaputra River between 2021 and 2025, through a strategic and developmental lens. It analyses the integration of national security frameworks like SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), infrastructural programs such as Sagarmala and National Waterway 2, and the vital—though underutilized—role of indigenous knowledge systems in flood adaptation and ecological resilience. The study highlights India’s attempt to balance geopolitical pressures, particularly in response to China’s upstream activities, with the need for sustainable and inclusive development in the northeast. Institutional fragmentation, climate vulnerabilities, and technocratic biases continue to hinder effective governance. By advocating for adaptive management frameworks such as Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA), the note proposes a forward-looking strategy rooted in real-time data, regional cooperation, and grassroots participation to ensure long-term ecological and geopolitical stability in the Brahmaputra Basin.
