International Conference on Dam Safety 2026 in Bengaluru | 19 Feb 2026

Why in News? 

The Government of India convened the International Conference on Dam Safety (ICDS 2026) in Bengaluru in February 2026 under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase II & III. 

Key Points: 

• Venue: The ICDS 2026 was organised at the J.N. Tata Auditorium, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru. 
• Organisers: The event was jointly conducted by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Central Water Commission (CWC), Government of Karnataka’s Water Resources Department, IISc Bengaluru, and the World Bank, emphasising a multi-stakeholder approach to dam safety. 
  • The conference was inaugurated by Siddaramaiah, the Chief Minister of Karnataka. 
• Focus Areas: Discussions centred on ageing infrastructure, climate risks, scientific and collaborative dam management, and policy frameworks to ensure safe and resilient dam operations across India. 
  • The event featured the launch of DAMCHAT, an AI-powered platform developed by the International Center of Excellence for Dams (ICED), and the Jal Shakti Data Management Platform by the National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC) to strengthen dam monitoring and data-driven decision making.  
• Global Participation: More than 750 delegates from India and countries such as France, Japan, Australia, Canada, and others participated, showcasing international collaboration in dam safety research and practices.