Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri CR Paatil, will inaugurate the “Vision for Sujalam Bharat" Summit 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 28^th November 2025.

The Ministry of Jal Shakti is organising the Departmental Summit on “Vision for Sujalam Bharat” on 28–29 November 2025. Conceived in line with the vision articulated by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his address at the Fourth National Conference of Chief Secretaries for organisation of 6 Summits on themes, which would not only bring together officers from Centre and States but also involve junior cadres. The Sujalam Summit promotes evidence-based policy making, sectoral reforms, and cooperative federalism. As part of NITI Aayog’s series of six thematic Departmental Summits, the Ministry of Jal Shakti leads the national water sector theme, encompassing source sustainability, drinking water security, sanitation, groundwater management, irrigation efficiency, and integrated rural–urban water management.

For the Vision for Sujalam Bharat, the Ministry of Jal Shakti organised extensive consultations across six core thematic areas between September and October 2025.:

1. Rejuvenation of Rivers and Springs: Ensuring Aviral (continuous) and Nirmal (clean) Dhara, spring-shed management, catchment protection, wetland restoration, riverfront development, and community-led river stewardship.

Workshop Details: Held on 30 September 2025 in virtual mode, the workshop had participation from 592 officials representing 26 States, including Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers, Commissioners, and officers from Water Resources, Sanitation, Agriculture, and Nagar Nigam Departments.

2. Greywater Management and Reuse: Promotion of circular water use through financing models, pricing frameworks, nature-based solutions, septage management, and reuse in domestic, industrial, and urban sectors.

Workshop Details: Conducted on 22 September 2025 in virtual mode, the session engaged 532 participants, including State Nodal Officers, Mission Directors, senior department officials, engineers, PRI members, SHGs, technical experts, and development partners.

3. Technology for Efficient Water Management: Adoption of digital tools, AI-driven water monitoring, micro-irrigation, loss reduction, leak detection, and precision agriculture for demand-side water management.

Workshop Details: Held on 24 September 2025 in virtual mode, the workshop brought together around 500 representatives from Central and State Government agencies, including CWC, WRD, Irrigation, Groundwater, RDPR, Agriculture, Dam Safety, MGNREGA, SBM(G), Atal Bhujal, WALMI, ACIWRM, CEEW, and officers from nearly all States/UTs.

4. Water Conservation and Recharge: Community-led groundwater governance, managed aquifer recharge, revival of traditional systems, and LiFE-aligned behavioural interventions.

Workshop Details: Organised on 7 October 2025 in physcial mode at the NDMC Convention Centre, the workshop witnessed 250+ participants from State Water Departments, Irrigation, PHED, Rural Development, Groundwater Departments, WALMI, Zila Panchayats, Soil & Water Conservation, and partner organisations.

5. Sustainability of Drinking Water Supply: Ensuring adequate and safe drinking water through source sustainability planning, climate-resilient infrastructure, community-based O&M, and digital governance tools.

Workshop Details: Conducted on 26 September 2025 in virtual mode, this workshop saw over 800 delegates, including 10 Mission Directors, more than 20 senior engineers, district officials, Gram Pradhans, VWSC members, and technical partners such as Biome and GuruJal.

6. Community & Institutional Engagement for Behaviour Change: Strengthening community institutions, frontline workers, and inter-departmental convergence to ensure long-term sustainability of water assets.

Workshop Details: Held on 1 October 2025 in virtual mode, with participation from 155+ representatives, including 20 senior officers, 45 district administrators, 30 technical experts, and 60 field-level implementation and other officials from multiple States and departments.

Across six thematic workshops, more than 2,800 participants from diverse field backgrounds shared invaluable insights, emerging challenges, best practices, and actionable recommendations. The Ministry has carefully consolidated these contributions into a comprehensive report that charts clear, forward-looking pathways to accelerate water sustainability in India. The nationwide consultative process has crystallised five key priorities: strengthening source sustainability, scaling groundwater recharge, enhancing the adoption of modern and nature-based solutions, revitalising community institutions, and fostering greater inter-departmental convergence to ensure more effective programme delivery.

The two-day Summit shall bring together representatives from Central Ministries, States and Union Territories, technical experts, Panchayat members, NGOs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), community organisations, and recipients of the National Water Awards and Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Awards. The discussions shall focus on deliberating on the recommendations from the thematic workshops.

The Vision for “Sujalam Bharat” Summit, 2025, marks a landmark convergence of India’s highest policymaking authorities and grassroots changemakers — from Central and State Secretaries, and senior officials to frontline grassroots workers directly engaged with communities. Such a deeper exercise is towards an open, result-oriented dialogue, sharper alignment between strategy and execution, and practical recommendations that will transform governance in the water and sanitation sector.

The Summit embodies India’s unified determination to build enduring water security through integrated planning, active community ownership, and sustainable practices — propelling the nation faster towards the shared goal of a truly Sujalam and Sustainable Bharat.

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