Revision summary
Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a 2019 mission-mode conservation campaign, not a new Act. It sat under the new Ministry of Jal Shakti and targeted water-stressed districts. Five pillars: harvest, traditional tank revival, reuse-recharge, watersheds, afforestation. It converges MGNREGA labour with district teams and Jal Shakti Kendras. Jal Jeevan Mission taps are related policy, not the same instrument.
Model answer
Introduction
Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a time-bound, mission-mode water conservation campaign, not a new water statute. Launched in 2019 after the Ministry of Jal Shakti was created, it pushed districts to harvest, recharge, and reuse water with existing schemes rather than wait for a single mega dam.
Body
Institutional frame
- The Ministry of Jal Shakti (2019) merged water resources with drinking water and sanitation so conservation and tap water sat in one political shop.
- The Abhiyan is a campaign with central teams in districts, using collectors, MGNREGA, and line departments, closer to a drive than to a standalone Act.
- First phase focused on water-stressed districts (initially on the order of 250-plus districts), especially in the pre-monsoon and monsoon window.
Five intervention pillars
- Water conservation and rainwater harvesting: check dams, rooftop harvest, farm ponds.
- Renovation of traditional water bodies: tanks, katas, ahars, temple tanks — repair rather than only new concrete.
- Reuse and recharge: treated wastewater where possible; borewell recharge and aquifer interventions.
- Watershed development: ridge-to-valley works already familiar from IWMP-type programmes.
- Intensive afforestation: catchment trees as a water, not only a forest, measure.
Water security extras
- Jal Shakti Kendras as district knowledge and coordination points.
- Convergence with MGNREGA labour, Atal Bhujal Yojana (groundwater, selected states), and later Jal Jeevan Mission household tap connections — related but distinct: JJM is piped drinking water, the Abhiyan is conservation behaviour and structures.
- Thrust on block-level water budgeting and public participation (catch the rain, not only a ministry press note).
Limits
- A campaign can build structures that fail without maintenance, groundwater regulation, and cropping change.
- It does not by itself repeal free power for pumps, which still mines aquifers in Punjab and elsewhere.
Flow diagram
flowchart TD J[Jal Shakti Abhiyan 2019] --> H[Harvest and tanks] J --> R[Recharge reuse] J --> W[Watershed trees] J --> D[Stressed districts] H --> S[Water security] R --> S
Conclusion
Jal Shakti Abhiyan’s salient features are mission-mode district drives, five conservation pillars, stressed-district focus, and convergence with MGNREGA and the new Jal Shakti ministry. It is water security as campaign and recharge, not a replacement for pricing, cropping, and the 2006-era water laws.
Quick related
Students also ask
-
Coastal sand mining, whether legal or illegal, poses one of the biggest threats to our environment. Analyze the impact of sand mining along the Indians coasts, citing specific examples.
Next question on this syllabus topic (2019 · Q7). View answer →
-
Is Jal Shakti Abhiyan the same as Jal Jeevan Mission?
No. The Abhiyan is conservation and recharge. JJM is functional household tap connections.
-
Did the Abhiyan create new water rights?
No. It is an implementation drive using existing schemes and district machinery.
PYQ trend
When UPSC asked this
Related PYQs from other years, newest first. Open a question to read it.
-
2021 · Q6 · GS III · 10 marks
Explain the purpose of the Green Grid Initiative launched at World Leaders Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November, 2021. When was this idea first floated in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) ? -
2021 · Q17 · GS III · 15 marks
Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference? -
2020 · Q7 · GS III · 10 marks
How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006? -
2019 · Q7 · GS III · 10 marks
Coastal sand mining, whether legal or illegal, poses one of the biggest threats to our environment. Analyze the impact of sand mining along the Indians coasts, citing specific examples. -
2019 · Q17 · GS III · 15 marks
Define the concept of carrying capacity of an ecosystem as relevant to an environment. Explain how understanding this concept is vital while planning for sustainable development of a region. -
2018 · Q6 · GS III · 10 marks
What are the impediments in disposing the huge quantities of discarded solid wastes which are continuously being generated? How do we remove safely the toxic wastes that have been accumulating in our habitable environment? (150 Words, 10 Marks). -
2018 · Q7 · GS III · 10 marks
What is wetland? Explain the Ramsar concept of 'wise use' in the context of wetland conservation. Cite two examples of Ramsar sites from India. (150 Words, 10 Marks). -
2018 · Q17 · GS III · 15 marks
How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act,2002 helpful in conservation of flora and fauna? (250 Words, 15 Marks).
More from this topic
Q17 · UPSC Mains 2025 · GS III · 15 marks
Mineral resources are fundamental to the country's economy and these are exploited by mining. Why is mining considered an environmental hazard? Explain the remedial measures required to reduce the environmental hazard due to mining.
Environment and Conservation
Mining underpins industry but strips forest, dirties air and water, and displaces people. Open-cast coal, metal tailings, sand mining and illegal pits are the main Indian hazard types. EIA, District Mineral Foundations, scientific closure and forest rights are the legal remedies. Illegal mining needs satellite watch and police, not only a new rule. Some deposits should remain unmined where ecology and consent fail.
Q18 · UPSC Mains 2025 · GS III · 15 marks
Write a review on India's climate commitments under the Paris Agreement (2015) and mention how these have been further strengthened in COP26 (2021). In this direction, how has the first Nationally Determined Contribution intended by India been updated in 2022?
Environment and Conservation
The 2015 NDC promised a 33–35 per cent cut in emissions intensity by 2030, 40 per cent non-fossil power capacity, and a large forest sink. COP26’s Panchamrit raised the political bar, including 500 GW non-fossil, a billion-tonne cut and net zero by 2070. In August 2022 India updated the NDC to 45 per cent intensity reduction and 50 per cent non-fossil installed capacity by 2030. Per-capita equity remains India’s diplomatic line. Pledges now need coal-path honesty and real forest carbon.
Q13 · UPSC Mains 2025 · GS III · 15 marks
Examine the factors responsible for depleting groundwater in India. What are the steps taken by the government to mitigate such depletion of groundwater?
Environment and Conservation
Most Indian irrigation still leans on groundwater, so a falling table is a farm and drinking-water crisis. Free farm power and paddy-wheat in the northwest are the classic drivers, with urban wells and weak licensing close behind. CGWB maps show over-exploited blocks across several States. Atal Bhujal, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, micro-irrigation and aquifer mapping are the main public replies. Without metering and crop change, recharge structures only delay the fall.
Toppers' copies
Toppers' copies for this question will be uploaded soon.