7th National Water Award (Governance)
7th National Water Award (Governance)
Why In News:
The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, has invited applications for the 7th National Water Awards (NWA), with the last date set as 28 August 2026.
Source: PIB Analysis, 3 July 2026
About the National Water Awards
The National Water Awards were first instituted in 2018 to recognise outstanding work in water conservation and management across India.
Applications are submitted through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal (www.awards.gov.in), used for several national-level award schemes.
The stated objective of the 7th edition is to promote the vision of 'Jal Samridh Bharat' and encourage best practices in water conservation.
Eligible applicants include States, Districts, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), dam-owning agencies and industries.
Selection Process
Applications first pass through a Screening Committee for shortlisting.
Shortlisted entries are evaluated by a Jury Committee.
Recommendations require approval by the Minister of Jal Shakti before finalisation.
The awards are conferred by the President of India or the Vice President of India, reflecting their national stature.
Why This Matters
India faces significant water stress, with per capita water availability declining steadily due to population growth and inefficient use.
Recognising best practices at State, district and industry level creates replicable models for water governance nationally.
Linking the awards to JSJB and JJM shows they are being used to reinforce flagship schemes rather than function as a standalone exercise.
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
Launched on 15 August 2019, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to every rural household.
It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved the extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) till December 2028.
The revamped JJM 2.0 marks a transition from an infrastructure-led approach to a sustainable, utility-based service delivery model for rural drinking water supply.
Key Highlights
Extended Timeline: Mission extended till December 2028 to achieve 100% Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) coverage across 19.36 crore rural households.
Enhanced Financial Outlay: Total outlay increased to ₹8.69 lakh crore.
Higher Central Assistance: Central share enhanced to ₹3.59 lakh crore, an increase of ₹1.51 lakh crore over the original 2019 allocation.
Structural Reform: Focus shifts from creating water supply infrastructure to ensuring reliable, sustainable, and citizen-centric water services.
Major Initiatives under JJM 2.0
Sujalam Bharat Digital Framework
Establishes a uniform national digital platform for rural water supply.
Every village will receive a unique Sujal Gaon/Service Area ID.
Enables end-to-end digital mapping of the entire water supply chain, from the source to individual household tap connections.
Jal Arpan Initiative
Involves Gram Panchayats and Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) in the commissioning, handover, and management of water supply schemes.
Promotes community ownership and strengthens local accountability.
Har Ghar Jal Certification
A Gram Panchayat can be certified as ‘Har Ghar Jal’ only after ensuring that robust Operation and Maintenance (O&M) arrangements are in place for long-term service delivery.
Jal Utsav
An annual community-led event to assess the performance of village water supply systems.
Encourages community participation, water conservation, and the sustainable management of rural drinking water infrastructure.