The first year following the launch of NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) marks a significant milestone for global soil moisture observation at unprecedented spatial resolution. This session will highlight early findings from NISAR’s high-resolution (~100–200 m) soil moisture products derived from L-band SAR observations, emphasizing algorithm performance, calibration/validation (Cal/Val) outcomes, and cross-comparisons with established datasets such as Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission. Presentations will explore retrieval accuracy across diverse hydroclimatic regimes, vegetation conditions, and agricultural systems, including insights from core Cal/Val sites and emerging global validation networks. We invite contributions on algorithm advancements, uncertainty characterization, downscaling approaches, and integration with hydrologic and agricultural models. Applications in drought monitoring, irrigation management, and food security will also be discussed. This session aims to synthesize early scientific and application-driven insights, identify challenges, and outline future directions for NISAR-enabled soil moisture science.