Rapid Fire
National Initiative on Water Security
- 27 Sep 2025
- 2 min read
The Union Government has launched the National Initiative on Water Security under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005, prioritizing water conservation across rural India
- National Initiative on Water Security: It aims to address depleting groundwater levels and ensure long-term rural water security. To implement this, the MGNREGA Act, 2005, was amended to make water conservation works mandatory by allocating funds, providing a statutory backing to the initiative.
- In ‘over-exploited’ blocks, 65% of MGNREGA funds will be used for water-related works.
- In ‘semi-critical’ blocks, 40% of MGNREGA funds will be spent on water conservation.
- Even in blocks without water scarcity, at least 30% of funds will go towards water-related works.
- It shifts focus from ad hoc water works to systematic water security planning, and reflects India’s commitment to water conservation through campaigns like ‘Catch the Rain’ and ‘Amrit Sarovars’.
- Achievements of MGNREGA in Water Conservation: MGNREGA has become the world’s largest social welfare program, creating over 1.25 crore water conservation assets like farm ponds and check dams.
- These efforts have reduced water stress in rural areas. Under Mission Amrit Sarovar, more than 68,000 reservoirs were constructed or rejuvenated in the first phase.
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Read more: Water Management: From Scarcity to Sustainability |
