With groundwater management falling under State responsibility, the Central Government continues to support States through technical and financial assistance aimed at improving groundwater levels across the country. The Ministry of Jal Shakti is implementing several schemes that focus on recharge, conservation and scientific monitoring.

Jal Shakti Abhiyan, launched in 2019, remains a major national campaign promoting rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge through convergence of local schemes. The 2025 phase prioritises over-exploited and critical districts and emphasises construction and restoration of rooftop harvesting systems and water-conservation structures. To further strengthen this movement, the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative—launched recently by the Prime Minister—seeks to build community ownership for rainwater harvesting through locally tailored solutions.

Groundwater monitoring and regulation continue under the Central Ground Water Board’s Ground Water Management and Regulation scheme. Following the completion of NAQUIM 1.0, which mapped India’s aquifers, the Board has now initiated NAQUIM 2.0 to focus on water-stressed and quality-affected pockets. The Atal Bhujal Yojana has also demonstrated the success of community-led groundwater management across 80 districts, supporting the construction of recharge structures and the adoption of micro-irrigation.

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare continues to implement Per Drop More Crop, which promotes micro-irrigation to enhance water-use efficiency. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is piloting the Shallow Aquifer Management project to rejuvenate shallow aquifers in urban areas and strengthen city-level water security.

States have undertaken notable local initiatives for water conservation, including Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan in Rajasthan, Jalyukt Shivar in Maharashtra, Sujalam Sufalam in Gujarat, Mission Kakatiya in Telangana, Neeru Chettu in Andhra Pradesh, Jal Jeevan Hariyali in Bihar, Jal Hi Jeevan in Haryana and Kudimaramath in Tamil Nadu.

Efforts to deepen and rejuvenate water bodies continue through national schemes. Mission Amrit Sarovar has led to the construction or revival of nearly 69,000 water bodies, enhancing storage and recharge. Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies under PMKSY supports desiltation and restoration of traditional tanks, while DRIP Phases II and III include provision for need-based reservoir desiltation. AMRUT 2.0 promotes rejuvenation of urban ponds and wells and encourages wastewater recycling. Under MGNREGS, extensive water-conservation and desiltation works have been carried out in rural areas.

The Ministry is also adopting new technologies for river and water-body rejuvenation through the Namami Gange programme. These include multi-storey sewage treatment plants, nature-based constructed wetlands, packaged Johkasou systems, advanced oxidation processes, electrocoagulation and mandatory tertiary treatment to meet stringent discharge norms.