Catch the Rain Campaign: National Water Conservation Initiative

The Catch the Rain campaign is a nationwide water conservation initiative focused on rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and water-body restoration. The campaign encourages communities and institutions to conserve rainwater through specific actions including adopting rainwater harvesting systems in homes and workplaces, installing recharge pits and shafts, repairing unused borewells for groundwater recharge, restoring traditional water bodies like baolis and wells, desilting ponds and reservoirs, and promoting tree plantation in water retention areas.

Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 1.0 (2024)

Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 1.0 was implemented from 1 April 2024 to 31 May 2025, strengthening community participation in water conservation through the principles of Community, CSR, and Cost (the 3Cs). The initiative mobilized convergence with ongoing government schemes and promoted low-cost groundwater recharge and water storage structures, including revival of defunct borewells and locally appropriate solutions. During this campaign, more than 10 lakh groundwater recharge structures were constructed, with more than 27 lakh artificial recharge structures reported overall.

Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari 2.0 (2025)

Launched on 1 June 2025, JSJB 2.0 built upon the earlier initiative with particular focus on groundwater recharge in over-exploited and critical districts. The approach emphasized low-cost and hyper-local interventions. In November 2025, exemplary contributions under JSJB 1.0 were recognized during the 6th National Water Awards.

Impact Evaluation and Achievements

Under the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative, over 1.55 crore Artificial Recharge and Storage Structures have been constructed. An Impact Evaluation Study of JSJB 1.0 evaluated 23 lakh structures using rainfall data between 1 June 2025 and 31 December 2025, estimating that these interventions resulted in 2.43 billion cubic metres of groundwater recharge.

Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: Catch the Rain (2026)

The 2026 initiative, launched on June 1, 2026, expanded the JSJB approach by integrating it with the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign. The campaign focuses on rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, water conservation, creation of water assets, and community participation through locally appropriate, low-cost interventions. It leverages convergence across several government schemes including VB-G RAM G, Per Drop More Crop under PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), Repair, Renovation and Restoration of Water Bodies under PMKSY, CAMPA, Finance Commission Grants, and other state government schemes. The initiative brings together Panchayati Raj Institutions, urban local bodies, women's groups, youth, educational institutions, civil society organizations and local communities for planning and implementation. JSJB: CTR portal and mobile application have been instrumental in strengthening transparency, monitoring and facilitating public feedback.

Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain Historical Context

Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain was originally launched on 22 March 2021 on World Water Day with the guiding theme: "Catch the Rain, Where It Falls, When It Falls." The campaign built on the success of Jal Shakti Abhiyan 2019, which covered 1,592 water-stressed blocks across 256 districts for promoting rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, watershed development, rejuvenation of water bodies, afforestation, and community participation through a Jan Andolan approach. The campaign has evolved annually with different themes: 2021 focused on rainwater harvesting & water conservation with geo-tagging of water bodies; 2022 expanded to restoration of traditional water bodies and wetland/river rejuvenation; 2023 focused on source sustainability for drinking water in 150 water-stressed districts; and 2024 highlighted women-led water conservation initiatives (Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti) including desilting and cleaning of water bodies and revival of abandoned borewells for recharge.

Jal Shakti Kendras and Institutional Framework

Jal Shakti Kendras serve as district-level knowledge and facilitation hubs that provide information on water harvesting techniques, technical guidance, and support water conservation planning and implementation for communities and local administrations.