What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India for water conservation and water security?
Approach · directive: “what”
What it asks · State the objective, coverage, target interventions, delivery method and later extension of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan.
Open with · India draws 58–63% of its annual groundwater recharge each year (2004–2020, Dynamic Ground Water Resources 2020). Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), launched on 1 July 2019, set out to change that from the ground up.
Cover
- Focus: 1,592 water-stressed blocks in 256 districts, where teams of central officers work with the district administration.
- Two phases in 2019: 1 July to 15 September in the monsoon season, and 1 October to 30 November for states receiving the North East retreating monsoon.
- Five target interventions: conservation and rainwater harvesting; renovation of traditional water bodies and tanks; reuse and borewell recharge structures; watershed development; intensive afforestation.
- Delivery: a collaborative effort of Union ministries and state governments, coordinated by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, with block and district water conservation plans.
- Supporting steps: efficient irrigation and better crop choices promoted through Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and a large communications campaign to involve citizens.
- Later phase: from 2021 the campaign continued as Catch the Rain, covering all districts, rural and urban.
- Links: complements the Jal Jeevan Mission (tap water for rural homes) and the Atal Bhujal Yojana (community groundwater management).
Close with · JSA works when conservation becomes local: catching the rain where it falls, when it falls, and budgeting groundwater village by village builds water security where the rain lands.
Add value (verified)
- The Ministry's launch note gives the campaign's scale and its five interventions in its own words.Jal Shakti Abhiyan for Water Conservation Launched, Ministry of Jal Shakti, PIB (1 July 2019) ↗“teams of officers from the central government will visit and work with district administration in 1592 water stressed blocks in 256 districts, to ensure five important water conservation interventions”
- Economic Survey 2021-22 (citing the National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India, 2020): annual groundwater extraction has been in the range of 58–63% of extractable resources during 2004–2020.Economic Survey 2021-22, Chapter on Sustainable Development and Climate Change ↗“Overall, the annual ground water extraction has been in the range of 58-63 per cent during this period.”
- PIB backgrounder (2024): Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain was launched in 2021 with the theme 'Catch the Rain, Where it Falls When it Falls', extending coverage to all blocks in rural and urban areas.PIB backgrounder: Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain 2024 ↗“In 2021, “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” (JSA: CTR) was launched with the theme “Catch the Rain – Where it Falls When it Falls.” This initiative subsumed the earlier Catch the Rain campaign, extending its coverage to all blocks in both rural and urban areas across the country.”
- PIB backgrounder (2022): the Cabinet approved Atal Bhujal Yojana on 24 December 2019, a Central Sector Scheme of Rs 6,000 crore for 2020-21 to 2024-25; 50% is a World Bank loan repaid by the Centre, and committees must have 20% women.PIB backgrounder: Atal Bhujal Yojana (March 2022) ↗“gave its approval for the implementation of the Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL), a Central Sector Scheme with a total outlay of Rs. 6000 Crore to be implemented over a period of 5 years (2020-21 to 2024-25).”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2020, GS Paper III — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 3 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 221words · Minimalist IAS
India draws 58–63% of its extractable groundwater each year (2004–2020, Dynamic Ground Water Resources 2020). Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), launched on 1 July 2019, set out to change that from the ground up.
Salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan
- Objective: a time-bound jan andolan for water conservation and water security, on the lines of Swachh Bharat.
- Coverage and timing: 1,592 water-stressed blocks in 256 districts; 1 July to 15 September 2019 for the monsoon, 1 October to 30 November for retreating-monsoon states.
- Five interventions:
Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Rainwater harvesting; Traditional water bodies; Reuse and borewell recharge; Watershed development; Intensive afforestation
- Delivery: central officers work with district administrations, coordinated by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
- Supporting steps: Krishi Vigyan Kendras push efficient irrigation and crop choices, plus a mass communication campaign.
Later phases and links
- Catch the Rain (2021): the theme 'Catch the Rain, where it falls, when it falls' extended JSA to all blocks, rural and urban.
- Atal Bhujal Yojana: Rs 6,000 crore (2020-21 to 2024-25), half a World Bank loan, for community groundwater management with 20% women in committees.
- Jal Jeevan Mission: rural tap water, which JSA's recharge sustains.
JSA works when conservation becomes local: catching the rain where it falls, when it falls, and budgeting groundwater village by village builds water security where the rain lands.
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 3 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
