National Initiative on Water Security

On 25th September 2025, the Union Government launched the National Initiative on Water Security, marking a policy shift to prioritize water conservation under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

  • Earlier, on 23rd September 2025, the Union Ministry of Rural Development amended paragraph 4(2) of Schedule I of the MGNREGA Act, mandating minimum expenditure on water-related works.

Rationale

  • Groundwater Crisis: India accounts for nearly 25% of global groundwater extraction, making it the world’s largest user.
  • High Rural Dependence: Around 80% of rural drinking water and nearly two-thirds of agricultural irrigation depend on groundwater.
  • Climate Vulnerability: Increasingly erratic monsoons and a higher ....
Do You Want to Read More?
Subscribe Now
To get access to detailed content

Already a Member? Login here

Take Annual Subscription and get the following Advantage
The annual members of the Civil Services Chronicle can read the monthly content of the magazine as well as the Chronicle magazine archives.
Readers can study all the material since 2018 of the Civil Services Chronicle monthly issue in the form of Chronicle magazine archives.
Be an Annual Subscriber

India Watch