**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched the 7th National Water Awards to recognize exemplary work in water conservation and management. This initiative supports the government’s ‘Jal Samridh Bharat’ vision by encouraging stakeholders to adopt holistic water resource management practices. The final deadline for the submission of online applications is 28th August 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Application and Eligibility**
* Applications must be submitted exclusively through the Rashtriya Puraskar portal (www.awards.gov.in).
* Eligible entities include any State, District, Urban Local Body, Dam Own Agency, or Industry demonstrating excellence in water conservation.
* The deadline for all submissions is 28th August 2026.
* **Award Categories**
* **Best State:** Focuses on Water Resource Management, Jal Sanchay Jal Bhagidari (JSJB), and Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
* **Best District:** Provides 15 awards distributed across five zones (Northern, Southern, Western, Eastern, and North Eastern).
* **Best Urban Local Body:** Recognizes excellence in water resource management and JSJB across the five geographic zones.
* **Best Implemented Project:** Specifically themed around "Dam Safety" for the 7th edition.
* **Best Industry for CSR:** Recognizes industry-led Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives in the water sector.
* **Selection and Recognition**
* Applications undergo a two-tier evaluation process involving a Screening Committee and a Jury Committee.
* Final recommendations are approved by the Minister of Jal Shakti.
* Winners receive a Trophy and a Citation, conferred by the President or Vice President of India.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholders: State and District Administrations**
**Impact**
These entities are evaluated on their implementation of major schemes like the Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal Sanchay Jal Bhagidari. Recognition serves as a benchmark for governance in water resource management.
**Action Required**
Submit applications for Water Resource Management via the MHA Puraskar portal and ensure relevant data is updated in the JSJB and JJM-IMIS monitoring frameworks.
**Stakeholders: Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)**
**Impact**
ULBs are incentivized to improve local water management and participate in zonal competitions to achieve national recognition.
**Action Required**
Apply through the Rashtriya Puraskar portal for Water Resource Management and maintain performance data for the JSJB monitoring framework.
**Stakeholders: Industry and Project Implementing Authorities**
**Impact**
Industries are recognized for their social contributions, while project authorities are highlighted for their work on Dam Safety.
**Action Required**
Project authorities must apply via the MHA portal. Industries must ensure their water-related CSR initiatives are documented on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs’ portals.
Key Entities Referenced
7th National Water Awards: An initiative launched to recognize and encourage exemplary work in water conservation and management across India to achieve the vision of ‘Jal Samridh Bharat’.
Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation: The nodal department under the Ministry of Jal Shakti responsible for organizing, scrutinizing, and administering the awards process.
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): A central government program whose implementation data and Information Management System (IMIS) are used as key criteria for selecting award winners.
Jal Sanchay Jal Bhagidari (JSJB): A water conservation initiative and monitoring framework utilized to evaluate and select eligible entities for specific award categories.
Rashtriya Puraskar Portal: The centralized online platform managed by the Ministry of Home Affairs used for the submission and processing of all award applications.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Ministry of Jal Shakti Launches 7th National
Water Awards
Last date of submission of applications is 28th August 2026
प्रव तथ: 03 JUL 2026 4:43PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR),
Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched the 7th National Water Awards on the Rashtriya Puraskar portal of
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). All the applications will be received through the online Rashtriya
Puraskar portal (www.awards.gov.in) only. Eligible organisations/entities/applicants may visit the portal or
the Department's website (www.jalshakti-dowr.gov.in) for further details. The last date of submission of
applications is 28th August, 2026.
Eligibility for the awards:
Any State, District, Urban Local Body, Dam Own Agencies, & Industry who have done good work in the
field of water conservation and management is eligible.
Trophy and Citation:
Each winner would be provided a Trophy with a Citation.
Selection Process:
All applications received for 7th National Water Awards are scrutinized/shortlisted by a Screening
Committee & shortlisted applications are placed before the Jury Committee which is constituted by the
Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti. The
recommendations of the Committee are submitted to the Minister (Jal Shakti) for approval. Thereafter, the
names of winners are announced on a suitable date and an award distribution ceremony is organised
wherein the winners are conferred with the awards by the President of India or Vice President of India.
Details of the awards:
S Category of Sub-category Eligible No. of Selection
No. Award Awards/Prize process
Entity
money1. Best State i. Water State Govt/ 3 Awards Applications
Resource UT (First, Second received on
Management & Third) MHA Puraskar
portal
ii. Jal Sanchay State 3 Awards To be selected
Jal Govt/UT (First, Second from JSJB
Bhagidari & Third) monitoring
(JSJB) framework
iii. Jal Jeevan 3 Awards To be selected
Mission State Govt/ (First, Second from JJM-IMIS,
(JJM) UT & Third) JSAn
(Jal Seva
Aankalan)
Data under JJM-
IMIS, and
WQMIS
(Water
Quality
Monitoring
Information
System)
2. Best District i. Water District 15 Awards Applications
Resource Admn/ (Three received on
Management MHA Puraskar
DM/DC awards – per
portal
zone first,
second & third
from five zones
i.e., Northern,
Southern,
Western,
Eastern &
North Eastern)ii. Jal Sanchay District 15 Awards To be selected
Jal Admn/ (Three from JSJB
Bhagidari monitoring
DM/DC awards per
(JSJB) framework
zone-first,
second & third
from five zones
i.e., Northern,
Southern,
Western,
Eastern &
North Eastern)
iii. Jal Jeevan District 15 Awards To be selected
Mission Admn/ (Three from JJM-IMIS,
(JJM) JSAn
DM/DC awards per zone
- first, second & (Jal Seva
third from five Aankalan)
zones i.e.
Northern, Data under JJM-
Southern, IMIS, and
Western, WQMIS
Eastern &
(Water Quality
North Eastern)
Monitoring
Information
System)
3. Best Urban i. Water Urban Local 5 Awards (One Applications
Local Body Resource Body received on
award from
Management MHA Puraskar
each of the five
portal
zones
i.e., Northern,
Southern,
Western,
Eastern &
North Eastern)ii. Jal Sanchay Urban Local 5 Awards (One To be selected
Jal Body from JSJB
award from
Bhagidari monitoring
each of the five
(JSJB) framework
zones
i.e., Northern,
Southern,
Western,
Eastern &
North Eastern)
4. Best Theme for Project 3 Awards: Applications
Implemented 7th NWAs is Dam Implementing received on
First, Second
Project in Safety Authorities MHA Puraskar
and Third
water sector portal
award
5. Best - Industry 3 Awards: To be selected
Industry for from portals
First, Second and
CSR related to CSR of
Third award
initiative in Ministry of
water sector Corporate
Affairs/related
Ministries
The National Water Awards (NWAs) were introduced to recognize and encourage exemplary work and
efforts made by States, Districts, individuals, organizations etc. across the country in accomplishing the
government’s vision ‘Jal Samridh Bharat’. It aims to sensitize the public about the importance of water
and motivate them to adopt the best water usage practices. The objective of the National Water Awards is
to encourage the stakeholders to adopt a holistic approach toward water resource management in the
country as surface water and groundwater play a significant role in the water cycle. The first edition of the
National Water Awards was introduced in the year 2018 by the Department and 6 editions of the Awards
have been successfully organised by the Department.
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ND/HM
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