Knowledge gaps in water systems management in South Asia: a framework for research

The chapter introduces the book that highlights various challenges and opportunities for water management and cooperation in South Asia. Taking into consideration the increasing urbanization and development in the region and related pressure on water resources, the various chapters investigate water conflictual and cooperative attitudes and gestures between countries and regions, analyse management trade-offs between nature, agriculture and urban uses, and look into water sustainable management and related policies. The chapter highlights the increasing importance of South Asia, alerts for the constraining impacts of water scarcity, and indicates challenges for improved sustainable water management. The chapter concludes with synopses of each part of the book and of the chapters that compose them.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management in South Asia represents one of the most pressing urban governance challenges, shaped by rapid urbanization, institutional fragmentation, and weak integration of circular economy principles. This paper undertakes a decade-long systematic and bibliometric review (2015–2025) of 592 peer-reviewed studies retrieved from Scopus applying PRISMA guidelines. The bibliometric analysis demonstrates a steep rise in scholarly output, from fewer than 30 papers in 2015 to over 130 in 2024, with India and Bangladesh accounting for the majority of contributions, while smaller states such as Bhutan, Maldives, and Afghanistan remain underrepresented. Research is concentrated in engineering and environmental sciences, with keyword clusters shifting from traditional waste disposal and landfilling toward circular economy, recycling, and governance integration. Across the systematic evidence base, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan generate over 80% of South Asia’s MSW yet recycle less than 25%, highlighting systemic deficiencies in policy coherence, financing, and informal sector recognition. This study contributes uniquely by benchmarking governance frameworks across eight South Asian countries, aligning technological and policy innovations with sustainability pathways, and advancing a regional roadmap for inclusive, circular, and resilient MSW governance.

Public management in South Asia has been influenced by the colonial past which has resulted in the domination of administrative systems by the bureaucrats. Bureaucracies remained firmly entrenched as powerful groups and performed both administrative and political functions. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka represent cases with similar backgrounds which opted for different political and economic systems after achieving independence. Consequently, a number of issues have emerged in public management in South Asia. These include debureaucratization of the policy process, complex relationship between specialists and generalists, integration of administrative structures, reconciliation of merit and equity, choice between professional and political patronage, revitalization of management, bridging the ever widening gap between the citizens and administrators, and the establishment of a sound ethical base of administration. The success of South Asian governments in dealing with these issues will determine, to a considerable extent, the dimensions and directions of change. While some of the issues will have to be addressed in the natural course of development, others will require a substantial degree of commitment from the governments as well as the societies.

The rapid industrialization and urbanization across South Asia in recent years have driven significant increases in surface ozone (O₃) and fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) concentrations, posing serious environmental and public health challenges. This study investigates the potential of precursor emission reductions in mitigating surface O₃ and PM₂.₅ levels over the Indian subcontinent, with a focus on the pre-monsoon season. Using the WRF-Chem model, we applied two chemical mechanisms: MOZCART, representing a simpler approach, and MOZART-MOSAIC, incorporating more complex gas-phase and aerosol interactions.Through a series of sensitivity experiments, we analysed the effects of a 50% reduction in key precursors—nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH₄), and their combined reductions. The results revealed distinct responses to emission reductions. For surface O₃, MOZCART mechanism showed substantial reductions (~ 8 ppbv) in northern India under curtailed NOₓ emission, highlighting dominant role of NOx in O₃ production in this region. In contrast, VOC and CO reductions had limited impacts on O₃ levels (~5 ppbv), suggesting a VOC-limited regime in certain areas. The MOZART-MOSAIC mechanism provided deeper insights, revealing substantial PM₂.₅ reductions (~3 ug/m3) under combined precursor reductions, emphasizing the intricate coupling between gas-phase and particulate chemistry.Further analysis of diurnal and nocturnal variations highlighted differences in chemical dynamics between the two mechanisms. MOZCART indicated an increase in daytime O₃ levels (~ 8 ppbv) under combined precursor reductions, likely due to shifts in photochemical regimes, whereas MOZART-MOSAIC exhibited nighttime O₃ reductions (~ 4 ppbv) driven by changes in nocturnal chemical pathways.This study underscores the critical importance of multi-pollutant emission reductions to achieve meaningful improvements in surface O₃ and PM₂.₅ levels. It also highlights the complex and region-specific interactions between atmospheric precursors, emphasizing the need for integrated and holistic approaches to air quality management in South Asia.

Energy management in South Asia

South Asian region, like other regions of the world, is witnessing a rising problem of invasive alien weeds with wide ranging environmental and socio-economic impacts. Current policy and management responses, and national capacities of the South Asian countries are inadequate in slowing down the rate of invasion process, suggesting a need for new approaches to address the problem. Through narrative review of selected references and author’s own experiences, several challenges of invasive weed management in South Asia have been identified, including inadequate policy responses, ineffective quarantine and biosecurity rules, low national capacity, knowledge gaps on key aspects, and a lack of common and agreed standards for species categorization. Future prospects identified for effective management of invasive weeds in South Asia include improving awareness of invasive weeds problem among policy makers and other stakeholders, regional networking for information exchange, regional collaboration for biological control program, and regional collaboration among researchers to generate policy relevant information. In a nutshell, formulation of the South Asian Regional Strategy for Invasive Alien Species and its proper implementation will prevent introduction of new invasive weed species and control of established invasive weed species for the benefit of imperiled biodiversity, ecosystems and billions of people inhabiting in this region.

This publication summarises the findings of a multi-disciplinary team that studied three different recently completed GTZ community-based forest management projects in Bhutan, India, and Nepal. The projects represented different approaches to forest resource management with different institutional arrangements and policy orientation. The team examined how the projects have linked people, institutions, sectors, disciplines, activities, and programmes together in a dynamic system of community forest resource management. The results indicate that using appropriate technical and financial support it is possible to achieve the twin goals of conservation of forests and reduction of poverty. The factors that led to successful innovations, and those that slowed progress, are described, and good practices in community-based natural resource management are documented many of them technological innovations that pave the way for a shift from mere subsistence to a more commercial use of forest products. The publication will be of interest to all those concerned with community-based approaches to natural resource management.

Agriculture in South Asia is largely dependent on rainfall, where about two-thirds of the cultivable lands lack irrigation facilities. In recent years, increasing frequency and severity of droughts have had a severe impact on rainfed agriculture and livelihood of millions of farmers in the region. There are numerous drought adaptation and mitigation options available for rainfed agriculture. A seed bank is one of those options that can play an important role in minimizing the effect of droughts on crop production. This paper assesses the need for seed banks in rainfed/partially irrigated areas of South Asia for the purpose of drought risk management. The need for additional seeds of the main crops or suitable alternative crops for re-sowing/planting after drought-induced losses of the main crop was assessed by using long-term gridded rainfall data and crop information. Results show that very limited rainfed areas in South Asia require additional seeds of main or alternative crops for drought risk management once in five to seven years’ drought return period. About 90 percent of such areas in South Asia may require additional seeds for drought risk management once in 10 years or more. The timing and severity of droughts during cropping season and cost/benefits of seed bank maintenance play a major role in choosing additional seeds for the main crops and/or alternate crops for maintenance in the large seed banks. This study shows that, despite the large investment requirement, maintenance of large seed banks for drought risks management is economically viable for the limited areas in South Asia.

Watershed management in South Asia: A synoptic review

South Asia represents the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Topographically, it is dominated by the Indian Plate, which rises above sea level as Nepal and northern parts of India situated south of the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush. South Asia is bounded on the south by the Indian Ocean and on land by West Asia, Central Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. South Asia covers about 5.1 million km2, which is 11.51% of the Asian continent or 3.4% of the world’s land surface area. The region is home to about 39.5% of Asia’s population and over 24% of the world’s population, making it both the most populous and the most densely populated geographical region in the world. The important rivers of South Asia are Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra. These rivers have contributed to the rise and prosperity of some of the earliest civilizations in history and today are the source of livelihood for millions. The South Asian river basins, most of which have their source in the Himalayas, support rich ecosystems and irrigate millions of hectares of fields, thereby supporting some of the highest population densities in the world.

The article reviews the state of M&E in South Asia, and makes a case for building capacity in the field, without which the discipline will remain underdeveloped, and accountability for government spending not improve. We suggest that almost none of the South Asian countries have yet managed to develop an M&E ‘system’, though all have mechanisms in place. The article discusses the MIS and evaluation systems, tools in use by governments in South Asia, budgets for evaluation, and the role of civil society organizations. It highlights two cases in South Asia (India and Sri Lanka) where the concept of Performance Management has gathered momentum, even though outcome budgeting has barely taken off in any country of the sub-region. It examines plans for improving implementation of evaluation, but finds many areas suffering from capacity weaknesses. The article closes by recommending ways to address the capacity weaknesses.

Water Academy for Youth (WAY) is Global Water Partnership’s (GWP’s) flagship Youth Programmes launched by aiming to promote leadership, mentorship, fellowships/internships, networking, and intergenerational dialogues among regional youth. The South Asia edition of the programme was coordinated by GWP South Asia (GWP SAS) held in an online format for a duration of 9 weeks between 26th September and 30th November 2022. The programme was facilitated in close collaboration with Waterlution, Water Science Policy, and GWP Southeast Asia. Young professionals and experts were also connected to decision makers, practitioners, and senior water leaders for mentorship, inter-generational dialogues, to network and act on SDG implementation focused on riverscapes and riverine ecosystems in South Asia. At the end of the programme, participants joined ‘Youth and Young Water Professionals Platform (YYPP),’ a body that functions as a pool of knowledgeable youth working to support improved water management in South Asia. This resource book is a public recognition of the commitment of the cohort of WAY programme members from across South Asia, highlights youth contributions towards water action, and supports the dissemination of findings. Furthermore, it validates the value of creating youth opportunities to empower them as agents of change while sharing knowledge and experiences related to water in their respective countries

Snake bite is one of the most neglected public health issues in poor rural communities living in the tropics. Because of serious misreporting, the true worldwide burden of snake bite is not known. South Asia is the world's most heavily affected region, due to its high population density, widespread agricultural activities, numerous venomous snake species and lack of functional snake bite control programs. Despite increasing knowledge of snake venoms' composition and mode of action, good understanding of clinical features of envenoming and sufficient production of antivenom by Indian manufacturers, snake bite management remains unsatisfactory in this region. Field diagnostic tests for snake species identification do not exist and treatment mainly relies on the administration of antivenoms that do not cover all of the important venomous snakes of the region. Care-givers need better training and supervision, and national guidelines should be fed by evidence-based data generated by well-designed research studies. Poorly informed rural populations often apply inappropriate first-aid measures and vital time is lost before the victim is transported to a treatment centre, where cost of treatment can constitute an additional hurdle. The deficiency of snake bite management in South Asia is multi-causal and requires joint collaborative efforts from researchers, antivenom manufacturers, policy makers, public health authorities and international funders.

In 1947, British India-the part of South Asia that is today's India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh-emerged from the colonial era with the world's largest centrally managed canal irrigation infrastructure. However, as vividly illustrated by Tushaar Shah, the orderly irrigation economy that saved millions of rural poor from droughts and famines is now a vast atomistic system of widely dispersed tube-wells that are drawing groundwater without permits or hindrances. Taming the Anarchy is about the development of this chaos and the prospects to bring it under control. It is about both the massive benefit that the irrigation economy has created and the ill-fare it threatens through depleted aquifers and pollution. Tushaar Shah brings exceptional insight into a socio-ecological phenomenon that has befuddled scientists and policymakers alike. In systematic fashion, he investigates the forces behind the transformation of South Asian irrigation and considers its social, economic, and ecological impacts. He considers what is unique to South Asia and what is in common with other developing regions. He argues that, without effective governance, the resulting groundwater stress threatens the sustenance of the agrarian system and therefore the well being of the nearly one and a half billion people who live in South Asia. Yet, finding solutions is a formidable challenge. The way forward in the short run, Shah suggests, lies in indirect, adaptive strategies that change the conduct of water users. From antiquity until the 1960‘s, agricultural water management in South Asia was predominantly the affair of village communities and/or the state. Today, the region depends on irrigation from some 25 million individually owned groundwater wells. Tushaar Shah provides a fascinating economic, political, and cultural history of the development and use of technology that is also a history of a society in transition. His book provides powerful ideas and lessons for researchers, historians, and policy

Background: Globally, the number of people living with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) has increased by four-folds since 1980. South Asia houses one-fifth of the world’s population living with diabetes and it was the 8th leading cause of deaths in 2013 for South Asians. Aim: To review and discuss the context of diabetes in South Asia with a particular focus on a) contributing factors and impact; b) national health policies around non-communicable diseases in the region and; c) to offer recommendations for prevention and management of diabetes. Method: We assessed relevant publications using PubMed, Scopus and OvidSP. Similarly, the World health Organization (WHO) and relevant ministries of each South Asian country were searched for reports and policy documents. Results: Emerging evidence supports that the prevalence of diabetes (ranges from 3.3% in Nepal up to 8.7% in India) in South Asia follows the global trend over the past decades. Urban populations in the region demonstrate a higher prevalence of diabetes although is also a public health concern for rural areas. Changes in the pattern and types of diet along with increasingly sedentary lifestyles are major causes for diabetes. Overall agenda of health promotion to prevent diabetes has not yet been established in the region and majority of the countries in the region are inadequately prepared for the therapeutic services for diabetes. Conclusion: The early onset of the diabetes, longevity of morbidity and early mortality may have a significant impact on people's health expenditure and health system as well as on the region's demographic composition. There is an urgent need to reduce the diabetes prevalence in the region through evidence-based interventions ranging from prevention and early detection to appropriate treatment and care. We suggest that a multi-sectorial collaboration across all stakeholders is necessary to raise awareness about diabetes, its prevention, treatment and care in the region.