The Water, Rivers & Ecosystem Restoration thematic area at Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur focuses on advancing science, policy, and innovation for the sustainable management and restoration of water systems. At its core is the Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga), a leading knowledge and research hub established in 2016.

cGanga serves as a key partner to central and state governments, supporting river conservation, rejuvenation, and basin-scale planning. Through integrated research, data-driven insights, and stakeholder engagement, it contributes to major initiatives such as the Ganga River Basin Management Plan, while also driving innovation through technology development and monitoring frameworks. With collaborations across academia, industry, and government, the thematic area aims to build scalable solutions, strengthen river health assessment, and develop sustainable water management practices.

Together, these efforts position the programme as a centre of excellence—working towards resilient ecosystems, restored rivers, and long-term water security.