The Government of India has recently reiterated its multi-pronged approach to water conservation, supporting state-led efforts through national programmes, funding convergence and technical guidance. While water is a state subject, the Centre continues to supplement state initiatives to ensure long-term sustainability of water resources across the country.

Key national efforts are being led by the Ministry of Jal Shakti through the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), implemented nationwide since 2019. The sixth edition of Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) was rolled out across all rural and urban districts from March to November 2025, under the theme ‘Jal Sanchay, Jan Bhagidari: Jan Jagrukta Ki Or’, with a strong emphasis on community participation and awareness.

The campaign promotes convergent financing from schemes such as MGNREGS, AMRUT, Per Drop More Crop, PMKSY, CAMPA and Finance Commission grants. Under JSA: CTR, Khandwa district alone completed over 7,000 water conservation works over the past three years, supported by district water conservation plans and Jal Shakti Kendras.

Public participation has been further strengthened through the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative, launched in Surat in September 2024, encouraging collective action by communities and local governments. More than 1,48,000 water-related works have been completed in Khandwa under this initiative.

The Central Ground Water Board continues to assess groundwater resources annually in consultation with states, supporting informed planning through aquifer mapping, monitoring and data-driven decision-making. National Aquifer Mapping has been completed across the country’s entire mappable area, including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. As per the Dynamic Ground Water Resources Assessment, groundwater extraction in Khandwa district improved from 41.48 per cent in 2023 to 39.78 per cent in 2025.

Additional support is provided through schemes such as PMKSY, watershed development programmes, AMRUT, 15th Finance Commission grants and regulatory guidelines on rainwater harvesting in urban planning. Monitoring mechanisms, including state and district nodal officers and online portals, ensure regular oversight and implementation.

The update was shared in Parliament by Raj Bhushan Choudhary, highlighting the government’s continued focus on sustainable water management, groundwater recharge and climate resilience.