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Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB), launched on 6 September 2024, builds low-cost groundwater recharge and water storage structures and revives defunct borewells.
In June 2026 it was merged with the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign as JSJB: Catch the Rain.
As of 3 September 2026, more than 1.58 crore artificial groundwater recharge structures had been constructed.
It was one of four thematic pillars at the Ministry of Jal Shakti's first Departmental Summit, held in New Delhi on 1-2 September 2026.
Drive rainwater harvesting and water conservation before and during the monsoon.
Key: Jal Shakti Abhiyan was launched on 1 July 2019, initially covering 256 water-stressed districts identified by the Central Ground Water Board; the 'Catch the Rain' series began in 2021 with the theme 'Catch the rain — where it falls, when it falls'. It now spans 734 districts and 1,592 water-stressed blocks.
Improve groundwater management through community participation in water-stressed areas.
Key: Launched 25 December 2019 with an outlay of Rs 6,000 crore — Rs 1,400 crore for institutional strengthening and Rs 4,600 crore for incentive-based outcomes over five years.
Create and rejuvenate ponds in every district.
Key: Launched April 2022; each Amrit Sarovar is planned with a minimum area of one acre and a storage capacity of about 10,000 cubic metres.
Provide a functional household tap connection to every rural household — 'Har Ghar Jal'.
Key: Launched 15 August 2019; JJM 2.0 and source sustainability were among the four pillars of the Departmental Summit, since recharge work underpins the sustainability of drinking water sources.
Nodal ministry; formed in May 2019 by merging the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation with the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
The technical body that identifies water-stressed districts and blocks and assesses groundwater — the basis on which Jal Shakti Abhiyan targeted its first 256 districts.
The village-level unit of participation; in Andhra Pradesh's Prakasam district they drove water budgeting, crop planning and groundwater sharing.
Rainwater is managed along its natural path, from high ridge areas down towards the valley. Treating the upper catchment first slows runoff, so structures lower down capture water that has already been checked, and soil and moisture are conserved through the whole sequence rather than at one point.
Simple Analogy: Slow the water at the top of the slope and everything below has time to soak it in.
GS Paper 3 > Environment > Conservation and Water Resources
General Awareness > Government Schemes
What are the benefits of implementing the Integrated Watershed Development Programme? 1. Prevention of soil runoff 2. Linking the country's perennial rivers with seasonal rivers 3. Rainwater harvesting and recharge of groundwater table 4. Regeneration of natural vegetation Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer: 1, 3 and 4 only
Which of the following is/are the advantage/advantages of practising drip irrigation? 1. Reduction in weed 2. Reduction in soil salinity 3. Reduction in soil erosion Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer: 1 and 3 only
Which of the following practices can help in water conservation in agriculture? 1. Reduced or zero tillage of the land 2. Applying gypsum before irrigating the field 3. Allowing crop residue to remain in the field Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer: 1 and 3 only
Community, Corporate Social Responsibility and Cost — the three levers through which the initiative funds and drives local water structures.
A built structure such as a recharge shaft, pit or pond that directs surface water into an aquifer rather than letting it run off.
Treating a watershed from its highest point downward so runoff is progressively slowed and absorbed.
Odisha schemes — CHHATA captures rooftop rainwater, ARUA recharges aquifers from water bodies.