Across the globe, investments in infrastructure development such as roads, embankments, dams, barrages, diversions, irrigation schemes and power facilities, while bringing visible benefits at the local and national level, are also creating multiple burdens and risks to the river and millions of people who are dependant for their lives and livelihoods on the rivers, associated wetlands and aquatic resources. In the case of international/transboundary rivers like the Yarlung Tsangpo-Brahmaputra-Siang-Jamuna, these risks and burdens are made more complex by sovereignty implications and geopolitical dimensions. Countries and governments need to move towards a perspective of shared opportunities for positive regional benefits, while keeping in mind national and local needs and interests. Transboundary water management needs to harmonise water policies and standards and brings into focus issues at different levels and across sectors, encompassing not only technical but also social and economic implications. This is the reason it is important to understand, national as well as regional arrangements of all countries in a basin.