Archive · 29 Sep 2025
MGNREGA Amendment Prioritizes Water Conservation Projects
The Indian government changed the rules for a program called MGNREGA that gives people jobs in rural areas.
Now, a larger part of the money will be spent on saving water, like building ponds or improving irrigation.
The amount spent on water projects depends on how much groundwater a block uses.
If a block uses too much water, more money will go towards water conservation.
This change aims to protect water supplies, with states like Rajasthan and Punjab likely to receive the most funds.
MG-NREGA Schedule-I has been amended to include a new focus on water conservation and harvesting.
The amendment dictates a minimum percentage of MG-NREGA funds be allocated to water-related projects at the block level.
The percentage of funds varies based on the groundwater extraction levels of the block, determined by the CGWB.
Blocks are categorized as over-exploited, critical, semi-critical, or safe based on groundwater usage.
States with a high number of over-exploited blocks, like Rajasthan and Punjab, are expected to benefit most.
- Who
- The Ministry of Rural Development and Central Ground Water Board
- What
- Amended MG-NREGA to prioritize spending on water conservation and harvesting in rural areas.
- When
- Amendment issued September 23, 2024; based on the 2024 Dynamic Ground Water Resources Assessment Report.
- Where
- Rural blocks across India, with a focus on over-exploited, critical, semi-critical, and safe blocks.
- Why
- To ensure greater investment in water conservation efforts.
- Act Amended
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MG-NREGA)
- Amendment Focus
- Water conservation and harvesting
- Implementing Body
- Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD)
- Funding Source
- MG-NREGA funds
- Allocation for water projects
- Rs 35,000 crore
- Over-exploited blocks
- 751 blocks across 17 states and UTs