India has a long history of explicit water laws rooted in its colonial past. However, in the 1970s, India became one of the first countries of the global South to establish extensive water legislation that focused on environmental aspects and formulated rules for abatement of water pollution, contesting water uses and integrated science-based governance of water resources. These water laws led to the establishment of regulatory and intermediary institutions, the setting up of formal rules, the evolution of governance norms and the rise of an extensive water bureaucracy. During the initial years, the water laws and policies were largely state-driven and state-centric, based on command-and-control principles. Eventually, after the 1990s, the focus shifted to more hybrid and market-based arrangements and ideals. The water laws and policies have significantly shaped India’s waterscape, economy and society. After 50 years, it is pertinent to examine the water laws and policies’ capacity to achieve the stated goals and reflect on the missed opportunities and neglected spheres, especially from the environmental and developmental perspectives. These reflections are crucial in a context where India wishes to achieve the SDGs by 2030 at a time when developmental policies are becoming more polarised, emphatic and human-centric. India is among the top five economies in terms of total GDP and number one in terms of population; however, it still accounts for a vast marginalised and vulnerable population. The growing economy, industry, and society need access to adequate and ‘safe’ water resources in an era greatly altered by climate change, mega-disasters and uncertainties.

This special issue will be a multi-disciplinary attempt to collectively reflect on the social life of water laws formulated during the last five decades in India and their impact on society, economy and environment.