World Bank Launches $426 Million Project to Strengthen Water Security in Bengaluru.
Banking & Finance
In June 2025, the World Bank approved a $426 million project titled the “Karnataka Water Security and Resilience Program,” aiming to enhance water availability and climate resilience for over 4 million people in Bengaluru, Karnataka, one of India’s fastest-growing urban centres.
- The approved funding will be provided through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA. The loan comes with a tenure of 20 years, including a 5-year grace period, reflecting long-term support for India’s urban sustainability efforts.
- The programme is designed to tackle the challenges of water scarcity, poor water infrastructure, and unpredictable monsoons. It will implement city-wide reforms in water governance, promote climate-adaptive infrastructure, and improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation in underserved zones.
- The initiative is a part of Karnataka’s broader state-level push for climate resilience, urban infrastructure transformation, and sustainable urbanization under the state’s Resilient Cities Mission. The programme will integrate advanced water resource management tools and predictive modelling technologies.
Main Point :- (i) In a parallel development, the World Bank has also sanctioned a separate loan of $150 million under the Tamil Nadu Women Employment and Safety (TNWES) Programme. This initiative seeks to improve employment outcomes and access to workplace opportunities for 1.6 million women across Tamil Nadu.
(ii) This second loan from IBRD has a longer tenure of 25 years with a 5-year grace period. It aims to enhance women's access to skilling, entrepreneurship, and formal jobs by modernizing state-level policies, strengthening institutions, and encouraging employer-led upskilling efforts.
CFO: Anshula Kant
Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
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