- Recognising India’s Leading Water Sector Changemakers with Global Sustainability & Innovation Awards 2026
The first edition of the Global Sustainability & Innovation Awards 2026, organised by 'Everything About Water (EAWATER)', was successfully launched on 24th March 2026 evening at SAMVET Auditorium (G), IGNCA, Janpath, New Delhi, bringing together key stakeholders across government, industry, startups, and civil society to recognise measurable impact and execution in the water sector.
The event featured Durga Shanker Mishra (IAS), Former Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh as Chief Guest, who emphasised the need to shift from policy intent to disciplined execution in water governance.
The Guest of Honor, Sulochana Das, Mayor, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, addressed the gathering and highlighted the role of urban local bodies in building resilient and sustainable water systems.
The event was also attended by senior government leadership including: Manjulata Kanhar, Hon’ble Deputy Mayor, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation; Chanchal Rana, IAS, Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation; senior municipal commissioners and public officials from across India.
The Jury comprised of distinguished personalities that brought to fore the ethos of integrity and technical depth to this platform; their credibility defined the strength of these awards. The jury incudes:
- Durga Shanker Mishra (IAS), Former Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh
- Dr. Veena Khanduri, Executive Secretary-cum Country Coordinator, GWP India
- B.B. Singh, Founder & CEO, BBSingh Consulting Services
- Mahip Singh, CEO, Innovation Hub UP, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University
- Dr. Shiv Singh Rawat, Former Superintending Engineer, Haryana Irrigation & Water Resources Department
- Pradnya Thakur, Sustainability Advisor
- R.P. Singh, General Manager (Jal, E&M), Noida Authority
Foundation
The event opened with a welcome address by Shivani Gorawat, Founder Member, Everything About Water (EAWATER), who articulated the vision of building a platform rooted in credibility, performance, and measurable impact. The evening concluded with a vote of thanks by K. K. Rao, Managing Director, Earth Water Foundation, acknowledging the contribution of all stakeholders in making the inaugural edition a success.
A Platform Focused on Execution, Not Optics
The EAWATER Awards have been designed as a credibility-driven platform recognising real, on-ground impact across the water ecosystem—covering drinking water, wastewater, infrastructure, industrial efficiency, and climate resilience. All entries were evaluated through a structured jury process based on:
- Technical performance
- Scalability
- Measurable impact
- Sustainability outcomes
Government & Public Utility Excellence Awardees
- Key government awardees included:
- Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation - represented by Sulochana Das (Mayor), Manjulata Kanhar (Deputy Mayor), and Chanchal Rana, IAS (Commissioner)
- Karnataka Urban Water Supply & Drainage Board
- Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation
- Satara Municipal Council – Digital water infrastructure & intelligent utility systems
- KSCSTE – Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), Kozhikode, Government of Kerala – Rainwater harvesting excellence
- Municipal Corporation Ludhiana - represented by Dr. Vineet Kumar, PCS (Joint Commissioner) and Dr Parul Goyal, Superintending Engineer
Industry Leaders Driving Technology & Scale Awareddes
Leading industry awardees included:
- VA Tech WABAG – Sludge treatment & resource recovery
- Grundfos Pumps India Pvt. Ltd. – Energy-efficient pump engineering & ZLD
- Vishvaraj Environment Limited – Wastewater reuse projects
Additional key Awardees
- Pure N Safe Private Limited
- InnoQor Technologies
- COOLDECK Industries Pvt. Ltd.
- Aquality Intelligent Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
- Transfilm Technology Inc
Along with Rostfrei Steels Pvt. Ltd., Nirtech Private Limited, Sahara Industry, V-Guard Industries Ltd., among others.
Startups & Innovation: Emerging Leaders
- Recognised startups included:
- Sustainico Technologies Private Limited
- NICO Nanobubble India Co.
- Prasinos Tech Innovations Pvt. Ltd.
- Aryav Ecofriendly Resources Pvt. Ltd., Baldota Envirocare Pvt. Ltd.,
- ArCh Enviro Equipment Pvt. Ltd.
NGOs Driving Grassroots Impact
NGO awardees included:
- S M Sehgal Foundation
- Rural Integrated and Social Education Society (RISES)
- AltTech Foundation
Special Recognition: Leadership That Shapes the Sector
Special honours were conferred upon:
- G. Asok Kumar, IAS, Former Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga – National Water Leadership & Governance
- Ajay Popat, Senior Advisor, Ion Exchange (India) Limited – Water Technology Leadership
- Swapnil Desai, Deputy Engineer, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation – Global Water–Wastewater–Energy Nexus Leadership (Public Sector)
- Nilesh Sheshrao Mankar, GSDA, Nagpur – Water Security Field Leadership
- Dr. Aloshree Choudhury, Andhra University – Woman Researcher Award
A Strong Signal for the Sector
The event brought together policymakers, municipal leaders, industry experts, startups, and NGOs—reinforcing a clear message: India’s water challenges require coordinated, execution-focused action across sectors.
The platform aims to:
- Identify scalable solutions
- Strengthen public-private collaboration
- Encourage investment in innovation
- Support implementation-led governance
Looking Ahead: A Long-Term Commitment
The 2026 edition marked the maiden launch of the EAWATER Global Sustainability & Innovation Awards. Building on the strong foundation of Everything About Water’s 25-year legacy in the
sector, the platform is envisioned as a long-term national benchmark for recognising real impact in water sustainability.
EAWATER has announced that the awards will now be organised annually on World Water Day, with a continued focus on credibility, measurable outcomes, and sector-wide collaboration.
About EAWATER
Everything About Water (EAWATER) is a leading platform in the water sector with over 25 years of legacy, connecting policy, industry, and innovation ecosystems, and driving knowledge, dialogue, and impact across the sector. For over two decades, EverythingAboutWater has been a trusted knowledge partner in the water and wastewater sector. Since its inception in 2000, the organization has successfully organized 20 global exhibitions and more than 500 conferences, seminars, and training programs, engaging stakeholders across the globe and driving meaningful industry dialogue.