C. R. Paatil opens new NDSA office and launches AI platform NETRA for dam safety
Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil inaugurated the new office of the National Dam Safety Authority in New Delhi on 10 March 2026 and launched its website and the AI-enabled platform NETRA.
Summary
Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil inaugurated the new office of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) at West Block II, R.K. Puram, New Delhi, on 10 March 2026, in the presence of NDSA Chairman Anil Jain and Central Water Commission Chairman Anupam Prasad. He launched the NDSA website, with a GIS-based 'Specified Dams' map, and NETRA (NDSA Engine for Tracking and Review using AI), an AI-enabled platform built with the Indian Navy's Weapons and Electronics Systems Engineering Establishment (WESEE). The NDSA was established under Section 8 of the Dam Safety Act, 2021 with effect from 18 February 2022, as the regulator that implements dam safety policies set by the National Committee on Dam Safety for the surveillance, inspection and maintenance of specified dams; the Act fixes its headquarters in Delhi.
Key facts
- Date / place
- 10 March 2026, West Block II, R.K. Puram, New Delhi
- Inaugurated by
- Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil
- Launched
- NDSA website (GIS 'Specified Dams'); NETRA AI platform
- NETRA partner
- WESEE, Indian Navy
- NDSA Chairman
- Anil Jain
- Static
- Set up under s.8, Dam Safety Act 2021, from 18 February 2022; HQ in Delhi
Practice MCQs 3 questions
What is 'NETRA', launched by the Jal Shakti Minister on 10 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — An AI-enabled tracking and review platform of the National Dam Safety Authority
NETRA (NDSA Engine for Tracking and Review using AI) is an AI-enabled platform developed by NDSA with the Navy's WESEE.
With which organisation did the NDSA develop its AI platform NETRA?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — WESEE, Indian Navy
NETRA was developed with the Weapons and Electronics Systems Engineering Establishment (WESEE), an R&D laboratory of the Indian Navy.
Consider the following statements about the National Dam Safety Authority: 1. It was established under the Dam Safety Act, 2021 and came into force on 18 February 2022. 2. It frames dam safety policy, while the National Committee on Dam Safety implements it. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 reverses the roles: the National Committee on Dam Safety evolves policies, and the NDSA is the regulator that implements them for specified dams.