KPMG in India has emerged as one of the leading advisors in the water and wastewater sector, delivering comprehensive, actionable solutions across the entire circular value chain ranging from water resource abstraction and service delivery to sustainable wastewater management and ecological restoration.
Our work is embedded within the firm’s Government and Public Services (G&PS) practice, supported by professionals with domain expertise. Through a sector-focused approach, we collaborate with central ministries, state departments, urban local bodies (ULBs), and public utilities to design and implement water sector programs that are sustainable, inclusive, and aligned with national priorities.
We integrate policy insight, technical proficiency, and delivery capability to help clients navigate complex challenges in the water sector. The G&PS team has the privilege of working closely with government stakeholders and leading think tanks to drive meaningful transformation at the grassroots level and create lasting impact for communities.
Flagship national programmes
KPMG in India has played a pivotal role in supporting flagship national initiatives such as:
Our services
Strategy and policy advisory
Programme and project management
Technical assistance and capacity building
Revenue and sustainability planning
Bid process management and monitoring frameworks
Institutional reform and governance support
Our engagements
KPMG in India’s engagements span both urban and rural contexts, addressing challenges in water supply, groundwater and surface water management, and long-term sustainability. We have worked extensively with water resource departments and municipal corporations to develop reform agendas, conduct socio-economic assessments, and implement capacity-building programmes. Our engagements include working with central, state, and local governments, and are supported by leading multilateral and bilateral agencies thereby demonstrating our proven credibility and technical depth in delivering large-scale, high-impact solutions.
With operations across nearly 70 per cent of Indian states, KPMG in India delivers context-specific, scalable solutions in the water sector. Our teams blend on-ground experience with expertise in water governance, climate resilience, and sustainable development. We have supported national missions by drafting cabinet notes, investment frameworks, and technical manuals. Our strengths in policy advisory, programme execution, Public-Private Partnership structuring, and donor-aligned financing make us a strategic partner for governments and institutions aiming to transform water systems and unlock measurable, long-term impact.
[1] Current Status of Jal Jeevan Mission, Press Information Bureau (Government of India), March 2025. Accessed on November 3, 2025.
[2] A Holistic Approach for Cleanliness of River Ganga, National Mission for Clean Ganga (Ministry of Jal Shakti), Press Information Bureau, March 2025. Accessed on November 4, 2025.
[3] AMRUT 2.0 Scheme Overview, Press Information Bureau (Government of India), March 2022. Accessed on November 3, 2025.
Driving growth with Water sector
- IFAT India 2026
- National AI Summit on Water 2026
- Global Water Summit 2026
- IFAT Delhi 2026
- ET Infra Water Conclave 2026
- Nilachal Mishra
- Arpit Guha
- Sumouleendra Ghosh
- Sandeep Paidi
- Prabal Bhardwaj
Nilachal Mishra
Partner and Head, Government & Public Services (G&PS), National Leader - Government and Infrastructure
KPMG in India
India has demonstrated that it can build environmental infrastructure at scale. The challenge before us now is to transform this infrastructure into an integrated resource economy that secures water, recovers value from waste, and supports sustainable growth in a resource-constrained future.
As India charts its Agrasar path towards Viksit Bharat@2047, resource circularity must become a core pillar of this journey. The transition to a circular economy is not merely an environmental imperative, but an economic necessity for ensuring long-term resource security, industrial competitiveness, and urban resilience.
India's next decade of environmental infrastructure development will be defined not by how much more it builds, but by how effectively it conserves, recovers and reuses resources.
India’s environmental infrastructure journey is entering a new phase, one that goes beyond building assets to securing resources, improving service reliability, and strengthening resilience.
As water stress, climate risks, and urbanisation intensify, the future of water management will be defined not by how much infrastructure we create, but by how effectively it performs. The focus is shifting from water availability to water security, from wastewater disposal to resource recovery, and from isolated projects to integrated value chains.
Water must increasingly be viewed as a strategic resource that underpins economic growth, industrial development, and community well-being. Achieving this will require stronger institutions, smarter use of technology, greater circularity, and a relentless focus on measurable outcomes.
The next decade presents a significant opportunity to reimagine India's water value chain, from source protection and efficient service delivery to wastewater reuse and resource recovery, creating a more resilient and sustainable future.
Sumouleendra Ghosh
Partner and Global Lead - Water Sector, Government and Public Services
KPMG in India
Water utilities may operate in different social, economic and environmental contexts, but many of the challenges they face are strikingly similar. The fastest path to transformation is not to start from scratch, but to learn from what already works and adapt proven solutions to local realities. Governments and international institutions can provide structured platforms for collaboration, while consultants, service providers and technology partners can help transfer ideas and innovation across geographies.
Equally important is utility-to-utility cooperation, where those that have successfully implemented reforms share practical experience with their peers. By institutionalising these channels of knowledge exchange, the sector can reduce the cost and risk of experimentation, accelerate innovation, strengthen resilience and deliver more sustainable water services at scale.
Sandeep Paidi
Partner, Government & Public Services (G&PS); Lead - Health, Human & Social Services (HHSS) and Office Managing Partner – KPMG in Hyderabad
KPMG in India
India’s urban future depends not only on building water infrastructure, but on ensuring long-term water sustainability. Embracing the ‘One Water’ approach will enable us to manage every water source as part of an integrated system, driven by innovation, investment, strong institutions, and partnerships. This integrated perspective will be key to building resilient, water-secure cities and shaping the next phase of urban water management in India.
Nilachal Mishra
Partner and Head, Government & Public Services (G&PS), National Leader - Government and Infrastructure
KPMG in India
Sumouleendra Ghosh
Partner and Global Lead - Water Sector, Government and Public Services
KPMG in India
Megacity transformation demands a fundamentally different approach vis-à-vis smaller urban bodies. It starts with rigorous upfront planning, modular execution at scale coupled with effective integration, and diversified funding. Equally critical is the ability to align multiple stakeholders and insulate long-term infrastructure from short-term political cycles. Without this, even well-designed programs risk falling short.
Sumouleendra Ghosh
Partner and Global Lead - Water Sector, Government and Public Services
KPMG in India
India's water sector public procurement landscape is evolving rapidly, with several noteworthy trends shaping its direction. There is an increasing emphasis on evaluating lifecycle costs rather than focusing solely on the upfront asset acquisition expenses.
Additionally, contracts are now frequently structured with extended durations, often integrating long-term operations and maintenance responsibilities alongside traditional EPC agreements. Another significant shift is the move away from technology-prescriptive requirements towards more technology-agnostic tenders, encouraging broader participation and innovative solutions within the sector.
Kumar Saket
Associate Partner, G & PS-HHSS
KPMG in India
The water sector is entering a new phase in which the sustainability of created infrastructure is becoming as important as fresh capital deployment.
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