Identifying evolving priorities in national river governance from Parliamentary Questions

Abstract Rivers and their surrounding land provide resources services that result in trade-offs requiring legislative institutional interventions, for which the perspectives of law-policymakers societal values political expediencies play a major role decision-making. This study critically evaluates evolving land–river governance large democratically elected governments with complex developmental priorities how law-policymakers’ recognition emerging issues river management influences common pool environmental governance. We selected an economy – India analysed Parliamentary Questions (PQs) between 1999 2020 using mixed method approach. Conflicting over economic development, pollution management, socio-cultural inter-state–centre shape A declining focus on large-scale dams coupled increasing attention inter-basin water transfers, conservation abatement, demonstrates evolution away from earlier narrow view rivers irrigation hydropower. Our analysis expedience critical thereby important insights into sustainable development while also identifying knowledge gaps suggesting scopes interdisciplinary studies.