Atal Bhujal Yojana, a groundwater management scheme built around community participation, was rolled out as a pilot across 8,203 priority water-stressed Gram Panchayats spread over 229 blocks in 80 districts, covering seven states, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, running from April 1, 2020, to October 15, 2025.
The pilot’s central goal was improving how groundwater gets managed in water-stressed pockets of these states, by having communities lead investments and management actions that brought together various Central and State schemes with an emphasis on managing demand. To get there, the scheme worked on strengthening institutional and governance structures while giving states incentives to push groundwater conservation at the grassroots level. Whatever lessons emerged from this pilot have since been passed on to other states for them to replicate.
Mapping Water Bodies and Building Recharge Structures
The Ministry of Jal Shakti has carried out a nationwide water body census, through which more than 24.2 lakh water bodies have been identified, counted, and geo-tagged. Separately, under the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) initiative, more than 1.55 crore structures have been built across the country for water conservation and groundwater recharge, all of which have been geo-tagged and uploaded to the JSJB portal.
Central Support for a State Subject
Water falls under State jurisdiction, so managing and developing water and groundwater resources sustainably is, first and foremost, the responsibility of individual State Governments. That said, the Central Government backs these efforts with technical and financial assistance through a range of schemes and projects.
As part of this support, the government relies on a suite of modern digital and technological tools, not just to map and monitor the country’s water resources, but also to shape precise policy decisions and evaluate how well schemes are performing. The major initiatives in this space are outlined below.
Mapping Aquifers Nationwide
The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) runs the National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM), using technologies like Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems to map aquifers, pinpoint recharge zones, and assess how sustainable various water sources are.
Under NAQUIM Phase 1.0, the entire mappable area of the country, 25 lakh square kilometres, has already been mapped, with district-level aquifer maps and management plans shared with State and District administrations for implementation. NAQUIM 2.0 takes this further, using cutting-edge technology to generate highly detailed scientific data that supports informed decision-making around sustainable groundwater management.
Tracking Groundwater Levels in Near Real Time
CGWB monitors groundwater levels on a near real-time basis through 5,260 Digital Water Level Recorders (DWLRs) installed under the National Hydrology Project (NHP). To build a fuller picture, CGWB has also folded in data from another 12,764 DWLRs put in place by State Governments under NHP, along with 6,266 more installed through the Atal Bhujal Yojana.
Digital Platforms Powering Groundwater Assessment
CGWB has also built the India-Groundwater Resource Estimation System (IN-GRES), a web-based application offering a standardised platform for assessing groundwater resources nationwide. The data it produces underpins the scientific basis for schemes such as MGNREGA, Atal Bhujal Yojana, and Jal Shakti Abhiyan.
Tracking Progress on the “Catch the Rain” Campaign
The JSA: CTR dashboard is a central digital platform, created under the National Water Mission, for monitoring and managing the “Catch the Rain” (CTR) campaign that runs under Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA). It functions as a hub for collecting and analysing data, tracking how water conservation activities are progressing, and helping build scientifically grounded conservation plans. As of July 28, 2026, the dashboard shows that more than 2.0 crore water conservation and artificial recharge works have been taken up across the country through this convergence approach.
Monitoring Rainwater Harvesting Under JSJB
The Prime Minister launched the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) initiative in 2024, with the goal of turning rainwater harvesting into a genuine mass movement across the country. To keep tabs on the recharge structures built under this effort, a dedicated JSJB dashboard tracks progress, and as of May 31, 2026, it shows more than 1.55 crore artificial groundwater recharge and storage works reported as constructed nationwide.
Forecasting Floods and Watching Reservoir Levels
The ‘Flood Watch India’ app draws on satellite data analysis, mathematical modelling, and real-time monitoring to produce accurate, timely flood forecasts. It covers 592 flood monitoring stations and tracks storage levels at 150 major reservoirs across the country.
Bringing in Satellite and Remote Sensing Expertise
The Ministry works with agencies such as the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) and the Space Application Centre in Ahmedabad, tapping satellite and remote sensing data for various forms of water resource mapping and monitoring.
Technology in Irrigation Planning Under PMKSY
Under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), technology-driven monitoring systems support the planning, implementation, and oversight of irrigation infrastructure. GIS-based tools, geo-tagging, and digital project monitoring systems help track how irrigation projects and water conservation efforts are progressing across various PMKSY components.
Geo-Tagging Water Bodies for Restoration Work
Within the PMKSY–Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) component specifically, tools like geo-tagging, GIS mapping, and unique identification codes assigned to individual water bodies help identify, monitor and track progress on work carried out under the Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) and Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies schemes. These technology-driven tools bring more transparency to the process, allow for real-time monitoring, and support planning and evaluation grounded in solid evidence.
Centralising Hydrological Data Through WIMS
Under the National Hydrology Project, which ran until September 30, 2025, the government set up an integrated Water Information Management System (WIMS) to collect, store, integrate and share hydrological data. The system acts as a centralised platform for assessing water availability, managing reservoirs and canals, handling irrigation, accounting for water use, and enabling evidence-based decisions around sustainable water resource management.
Assessing Surface Water and Monitoring Rivers
To scientifically assess surface water resources, a Water Resources Assessment Tool has been developed for basin-wise evaluation. The Central Water Commission (CWC) has also deployed advanced hydrological monitoring technologies to measure river discharge, water velocity, and surface flow velocity, and to track hydrological parameters like water level and rainfall in real time.
All of this data feeds into water resources planning, availability assessments, decision-making, and performance evaluation of water resource projects. Digital dashboards, web portals, and mobile apps are used extensively to collect and share data and to monitor how various Ministry schemes, including NMCG and the Minor Irrigation census, are performing.
Key Takeaway: India’s approach to water management is increasingly centred on technology, scientific mapping, and community participation, combining State-led implementation with Central support to strengthen groundwater conservation, water resource planning, and climate resilience. Initiatives such as the Atal Bhujal Yojana, NAQUIM, the nationwide Water Body Census, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari, Jal Shakti Abhiyan’s Catch the Rain campaign, and the National Hydrology Project leverage GIS, remote sensing, geo-tagging, digital dashboards, and real-time monitoring to improve groundwater assessment, flood forecasting, irrigation planning, and hydrological data management.
Together, these measures promote evidence-based policymaking, sustainable water use, and long-term water security while enhancing transparency, resource conservation, and the efficient implementation of national water management programmes.
M.C.Q.
Question 1: The National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM) is implemented by:
- A. National Water Development Agency (NWDA)
- B. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)
- C. Central Water Commission (CWC)
- D. National Institute of Hydrology (NIH)
Question 2: The Flood Watch India application primarily provides:
- A. Air quality forecasts for urban areas
- B. Real-time flood forecasting and reservoir monitoring using satellite and hydrological data
- C. Groundwater recharge estimation only
- D. Drought forecasting based solely on rainfall records
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