NWA
National Water Awards
6.6/10The 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.
States / UT: All India
Ministry / nodal: Ministry Of Jal Shakti
Scheme for: Infra
Scheme profile
DBT (direct benefit transfer): No
Categories: Agriculture,Rural & Environment
Tags: Water, Awards, Development, Water Resources
Details
National Water Awards under the Department of Water Resources, River Developmen,t and Ganga Rejuvenation Encourage the various stakeholder including Civil Societies, Gram Panchayats, Urban Local Bodies, Water User Associations, Institutions, Corporate Sector, Individuals etc.to adoptg innovative practices of ground water augmentation by rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge, promoting water use efficiency, recycling & re-use of water and creating awareness through people's participation in the targeted areas resulting into the sustainability of ground water resources development, adequate capacity building amongst the stakeholders etc.
No. of Awardees : 32
Nominate Person
Self in respect of Best Individual for Excellence, and Secretary/Principal Secretary of concerned State Departments, District Collector/ District Magistrate/ Head of Body, Prinicipal/Head of School/ College, Head of the Institution/ Industry/ Organisation/Association for other categories of awards.
Selection Process
All applications received for 5th National Water Awards are scrutinized by a Screening Committee of the Department & 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. No Award is conferred except on the recommendation of the Jury Committee. The recommendations of the Committee are submitted to the Hon’ble Minister (Jal Shakti) for approval. Thereafter, the names of winners are announced on a suitable date.
Benefits
- State Level:
- Trophies and citations are awarded to the Best State (1st, 2nd & 3rd place) and Best District in each of the five zones (Northern, Southern, Western, Eastern & North Eastern). Individual and Institutional Level:
- Trophies, citations, and cash prizes are awarded to winners in the following categories: 1. Best Village Panchayat 1. Best Urban Local Body 1. Best School or College 1. Best Industry 1. Best Civil Society 1. Best Water User Association 1. Best Individual for Excellence (Cash prizes: 1st - ₹2,00,000/-, 2nd - ₹1,50,000/- and 3rd - ₹1,00,000/-) 1. Best Institution (other than School/College) (Cash prizes: 1st - ₹2,00,000/- and 2nd - ₹1,50,000/-)
State Level:
- Trophies and citations are awarded to the Best State (1st, 2nd & 3rd place) and Best District in each of the five zones (Northern, Southern, Western, Eastern & North Eastern).
Individual and Institutional Level:
- Trophies, citations, and cash prizes are awarded to winners in the following categories:
- Best Village Panchayat
- Best Urban Local Body
- Best School or College
- Best Industry
- Best Civil Society
- Best Water User Association
- Best Individual for Excellence (Cash prizes: 1st - ₹2,00,000/-, 2nd - ₹1,50,000/- and 3rd - ₹1,00,000/-)
- Best Institution (other than School/College) (Cash prizes: 1st - ₹2,00,000/- and 2nd - ₹1,50,000/-)
Eligibility
Following Applicants are eligible to apply
- State Governments.
- District Administrations.
- Village Panchayats.
- Urban Local Bodies.
- Schools.
- Colleges.
- Institutions (other than schools/colleges).
- Industries.
- Civil Society Organizations.
- Water User Associations.
- Individuals.
How useful is this scheme?
A practical look at this scheme for citizens
AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.
- Accessibility5.0
- Financial impact9.0
- Rural utility7.0
- Awareness7.5
- Simplicity4.5
- Inclusivity5.0
What problem does this scheme solve?
The National Water Awards aim to promote effective water resource management across India.
Key challenges addressed
- Encourages sustainable water management
- Recognizes contributions to water conservation
Most beneficial for
- State Governments
- District Administrations
- Civil Society Organizations
Likely challenges
- Complex application process
- Limited awareness among rural stakeholders
Practical insights for citizens
Practical for organized bodies but challenging for individuals
Rural challenges
- Limited internet access
- Lack of awareness about the awards
Digital challenges
- High digital dependency for application process
Implementation bottlenecks
- Need for effective outreach to rural areas
Awareness challenges
- Low awareness among potential beneficiaries
Application analysis
- Application mode
- Online portal
- Documents burden
- Minimal documentation required
- Verification complexity
- Moderate
- Office dependency
- Low
- DBT dependency
- None
- CSC support
- Limited
- Estimated citizen effort
- Moderate effort required for application
Estimated beneficiary reach
Benefit analysis
- Benefit type
- Composite
- Benefit frequency
- One-time awards
- Benefit practicality
- Trophies, citations, and cash prizes are practical for recognition
- Financial meaningfulness
- Cash prizes are significant for individual awardees
- Long-term impact
- Encourages ongoing water conservation efforts
Plain-language guidance
The National Water Awards recognize efforts in water management and conservation. Various organizations and individuals can apply for awards and cash prizes.
- Who should apply
- State governments, local bodies, and individuals involved in water conservation.
- Who may struggle
- Individuals with limited digital skills or awareness of the awards.
- Best application route
- Apply via the official online portal with necessary details.
This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.
Application Process
Online
Registration:
Step-1: Visit the official website.
Step-2: Click on the Registration button.
Step-3: Choose the type Individual or Organization.
Step-4.1: Under the Individual category provide the following details.
- Name as per Aadhaar/Valid Identity Proof.
- Date of Birth.
- Nominator/Applicant Type.
- Mobile No.
- Email ID.
- Aadhaar Number.
Step-4.2: Under Organization category provide the following details. - Type of Organization.
- Name of the Authorized Person as per Aadhaar/Valid Identity Proof
- Date of Birth.
- Brief Description about the Organization (100 Words)
- Designation
- Mobile No.
- Email ID.
- Aadhaar Number.
Step-5: Submit.
Apply:
Step-1: Visit the official website.
Step-2: Click on login button on portal and login using the credentials.
Step-3: From the list of awards, select scheme name, then click "Nominate / Apply Now".
Step-4: On the next page, fill in all the mandatory fields in the online application form,
Step-5: Then click "Submit".
Clarifications
Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).
- What are the National Water Awards?
The National Water Awards are an initiative to recognize and celebrate outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of water resources management, conservation, and sustainability across India.
- Who organizes the National Water Awards?
The awards are typically organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, or other relevant government agencies responsible for water resources management.
- What types of achievements do the National Water Awards recognize?
The awards recognize achievements in various areas such as water conservation, rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, efficient water use, wastewater treatment and reuse, river rejuvenation, and community-based water management.
- Who is eligible to participate in Awards?
Individuals, organizations, institutions, local bodies, NGOs, industries, and government agencies involved in water conservation and management activities in India are eligible to participate.
- Can projects/initiatives from all states participate?
Yes, projects/initiatives from all states and union territories of India are eligible to participate in the National Water Awards.
- Is there a fee to participate in the National Water Awards?
No, there is usually no participation fee required to enter the National Water Awards.
- How many No. of Awardees ?
32
- How to apply for visitor’s Award?
Applicant may log on to the official website of Rashtriya Puruskar Portal i.e., https://awards.gov.in/.
- What are the Eligibility of the scheme?
Any State, District, Village Panchayat, Urban Local Body, School, College, Institution, Industry, Civil Society, Water User Association and an Individual who has done good work in the field of water conservation and management is eligible to apply.
- Who can nominate ?
Self in respect of Best Individual for Excellence, and Secretary/Principal Secretary of concerned State Departments, District Collector/ District Magistrate/ Head of Body, Prinicipal/Head of School/ College, Head of the Institution/ Industry/ Organisation/Association for other categories of awards.
Official links
References
- Guidelines
- https://awards.gov.in/Home/AwardLibrary
- Register
- https://awards.gov.in/Registration/SignUp
- Support Document
- https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3a70dc40477bc2adceef4d2c90f47eb82/uploads/2023/10/20231013570373286.pdf
Apply
Apply nowOpens the official application or programme portal in a new tab. If in doubt, confirm details on the ministry site.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the purpose of National Water Awards?
- National Water Awards is a government welfare initiative designed to support Infra through benefits related to Agriculture,Rural & Environment, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
- Who can apply for National Water Awards?
- Eligibility for National Water Awards may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
- What benefits are offered under National Water Awards?
- Benefits under National Water Awards may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
- Which department manages National Water Awards?
- National Water Awards is managed by Ministry Of Jal Shakti and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
- Can users apply online for National Water Awards?
- Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for National Water Awards through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
- Is Aadhaar mandatory for National Water Awards?
- Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
- Where can users apply for National Water Awards?
- Applications for National Water Awards may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
- What documents may be required for National Water Awards?
- Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
- Is income certificate required for National Water Awards?
- Income certificate requirements may vary depending on beneficiary category, subsidy eligibility, and financial assistance criteria defined under National Water Awards.
- Is National Water Awards a central government scheme?
- Yes, National Water Awards is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
- Can small and marginal farmers apply for National Water Awards?
- Eligible small and marginal farmers may apply for National Water Awards subject to land ownership records, income eligibility, and agricultural beneficiary criteria.
- Does National Water Awards provide subsidy support for farmers?
- National Water Awards may provide agricultural subsidies, financial assistance, crop support, irrigation benefits, insurance coverage, or farming-related welfare assistance depending on the scheme structure.
- Can CSC centres help users apply for National Water Awards?
- Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
- How can users check the latest updates for National Water Awards?
- Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
- Can beneficiaries track application status for National Water Awards?
- Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
- Where can users get help for National Water Awards in All India?
- Users in All India may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
- Which nearby public services may help with National Water Awards applications?
- Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.