• Topics included governance improvements, climate resilience, disease prevention, equitable access, and small-scale water supply management.
• A new programme of work for 2026-2028 was to be adopted focusing on sustainable, resilient water infrastructure.
• Bangladesh became the first South Asian country to join the UN Water Convention in 2025, highlighting regional water cooperation challenges.
• The Convention aims to manage transboundary waters sustainably to promote peace, security, and development.
• Preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference to be held in the UAE are ongoing, with emphasis on mainstreaming water into global governance.

• Official Name: Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, commonly known as the UN Water Convention.
• Adoption and Entry into Force: Adopted in Helsinki in 1992, entered into force in 1996.
• Scope: Focuses on the sustainable management and protection of transboundary surface waters and groundwater shared by two or more countries.
• Objective: Promote cooperation among countries sharing watercourses to prevent conflicts, manage waters sustainably, and promote peace and regional integration.
• Legal Nature: It is a legally binding international treaty promoting sustainable use of shared water resources.
• Benefits: Helps prevent water-related conflicts, supports integrated water resources management (SDG 6.5), and promotes sustainable development goals linked to water.
• Parties: As of recent years, includes over 47 parties including countries from Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

• India has not ratified or joined the UN Water Convention yet.
• India traditionally prefers bilateral agreements to manage shared water resources with neighbors rather than multilateral or international treaty frameworks.​
• Major bilateral agreements with India includes the Indus Waters Treaty (with Pakistan) and the 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty (with Bangladesh).​

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