One-Year Training Programme for Sixth Batch of Central Ground Water Board Officers Begins in Nava Raipur

One-year Induction Level Training Course (ILTC) for the sixth batch of newly recruited officers of the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) commenced at the Rajiv Gandhi National Ground Water Training and Research Institute, Nava Raipur, on October 29, 2026. The programme will equip 34 officers with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for groundwater exploration, resource assessment and sustainable scientific management.

The programme was inaugurated by Shri Pratul Saxena, Member (Ground Water Regulation), and Shri T. B. N. Singh, Member (Innovation and Rejuvenation), at the Central Ground Water Board headquarters. Dr. B. R. Lamsoone, Regional Director, North-Central Chhattisgarh Region, Raipur, was also present.

Welcoming the dignitaries and officers, Dr. Ranjan Kumar Rai, Regional Director of the institute, congratulated the newly recruited officers and welcomed them to the Central Ground Water Board. He highlighted the diverse academic backgrounds of the 34 trainees, who specialise in geology, geophysics and chemistry. The officers have received education from reputed institutions, including Banaras Hindu University, the Indian Institutes of Technology, Aligarh Muslim University, the University of Delhi, Presidency University, Kolkata, Dr. Harisingh Gour University, Sagar, and Pondicherry University.

The inaugural ceremony also featured cultural presentations by the trainees, including rangoli-making, dance performances and short plays. The trainees organised and conducted the programme themselves, reflecting their creativity, leadership skills, teamwork and collective participation.

A significant highlight of the event was the release of six regional-language editions of the Central Ground Water Board publication, Simple and Practical Methods of Artificial Recharge for Groundwater Augmentation. The publication has been translated into Assamese, Bengali, Odia, Urdu, Telugu and Malayalam by the trainee officers. The initiative aims to make scientific and technical information on groundwater conservation and augmentation more accessible to diverse linguistic communities in their respective languages.

The first issue of PRAVAH, a magazine conceptualised and designed by a team of six trainee officers under the guidance of the institute's faculty members, was also released. The magazine is intended to provide a platform for creativity, knowledge-sharing and the exchange of innovative ideas among trainees.

In another significant initiative, the institute signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with four universities—Andhra Pradesh Central University, Central University of Rajasthan, Central University of Karnataka and Banaras Hindu University—to promote collaboration in training and research. The agreements are expected to facilitate groundwater-related research, exchange of knowledge and technical expertise, and joint efforts in training and capacity building.

With the commencement of the programme, the 34 newly recruited officers have embarked on a year-long professional development journey. The course will combine classroom instruction, practical exercises and field training to strengthen their technical capabilities and prepare them to address challenges in groundwater exploration, resource assessment and the sustainable management of groundwater resources. 

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RDJ /BKT