PCRWR is an apex autonomous body mandated to conduct, organize, coordinate and promote research on all aspects of water resources including irrigation, drainage, reclamation, navigation, drinking water, industrial water, and sewerage management and set up national research centers wherever necessary. The other functions of the Council are to design, develop and evaluate water conservation technologies for irrigation, drinking and industrial water. Since its inception, PCRWR has played its role, as a national research organization, by undertaking and promoting applied as well as basic research in various disciplines of water sector, more specifically, irrigation, drainage, surface and groundwater management, rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, watershed management, desertification control, water quality assessment and monitoring, and development of innovative water resources conservation, management, and quality improvement technologies, etc.