The Government of India has continued the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain framework through a new phase titled Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: Catch the Rain (JSJB: CTR). The campaign is designed to turn rainfall into usable water through rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, restoration of traditional water bodies, and community-led conservation. For UPSC, the relevance lies in its connection to groundwater stress, local governance, and climate resilience.
What happened now
According to the PIB backgrounder, a focused nationwide campaign was undertaken from 4 July to 4 August 2026 after the Prime Minister’s appeal in the 135th episode of Mann Ki Baat on 28 June 2026. The campaign asked citizens to save every drop of rain and deepen water conservation efforts across the country.
The release links the 2026 phase to four practical tasks: adoption of rainwater harvesting in homes, societies, and workplaces; installation of recharge pits and shafts and repair of unused borewells; restoration of baolis, wells, and traditional water bodies; and desilting of ponds and reservoirs with tree plantation to improve water retention.
Background and earlier position
The water-conservation campaign has evolved through successive phases of Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari and Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain. The backgrounder presents these as linked initiatives that combine community participation, government convergence, and local water-recharge solutions.
Related current affairs
- Mann Ki Baat English rendering: Catch The Rain campaign for water conservation
- Rajnandgaon district (Chhattisgarh) prepares to ‘Catch the Rain’ through Mission Jal Raksha under #CatchTheRain campaign
- Nandyal District strengthens water conservation infrastructure and storage capacity under Catch the Rain campaign
- Balod (Chhattisgarh) community-driven rainwater conservation boosts #CatchTheRain under Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 2.0
- MoHUA reviews AMRUT 2.0 Shallow Aquifer Management under 'Catch the Rain' campaign; calls for greater community participation
- DDWS urges States/UTs to facilitate student participation and document/publish best practices under JJM 2.0