National Water Awards

What are the National Water Awards?

The National Water Awards are the central government's flagship recognition for excellence in water conservation and water resource management. According to the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD and GR) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the awards aim to "motivate individuals and organisations who are doing commendable work in the field of water resources conservation and management" and to build public awareness about the importance of water.

The awards were launched in 2007, initially alongside the Ground Water Augmentation Awards, and have since grown into a nationwide platform that recognises the efforts of states, local bodies, institutions and civil society. The Ministry of Jal Shakti announced the 7th National Water Awards for 2025, continuing a series that has run periodically since inception.

Importantly, the National Water Awards are a recognition programme, not a financial-assistance scheme. They reward demonstrated achievement in water management with a citation, a trophy and a cash prize, rather than providing any ongoing benefit to individual citizens.

Who is eligible for the National Water Awards?

The awards are open to a wide range of stakeholders working on water. Entries are typically invited across categories that recognise:

• Best State and Best District for water conservation performance.
• Urban local bodies and gram panchayats that have implemented strong water management practices.
• Industries and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives that have contributed to water conservation.
• Non-governmental organisations, water user associations, schools, colleges and institutions, and the media for outreach and on-ground work.

Who cannot apply: an individual citizen cannot apply for a personal cash benefit. The awards recognise the collective work of governments, bodies, institutions and organisations: not private individuals seeking financial support. An entrant that cannot show a concrete, evidenced water-conservation outcome will also not be competitive, since the awards are decided on demonstrated impact.

What do winners receive?

Winners receive a citation, a trophy and a cash prize. The cash amount depends on the category and has varied across editions of the awards, so the exact figure for any given year should be read from the official award notification for that edition rather than assumed. Beyond the prize, selection carries significant prestige and public recognition for the winning state, district or organisation.

How to apply for the National Water Awards

1. Watch for the call for entries for the relevant edition, announced by the Department of Water Resources, RD and GR under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
2. Register and file your nomination online on the National Awards Portal at awards.gov.in, selecting the category that matches your organisation.
3. Describe your water conservation initiative in detail: what was done, the area covered, and the measurable outcomes achieved.
4. Attach supporting evidence such as data, reports and photographs, and, for organisations, your registration proof.
5. Submit the application before the closing date and retain the acknowledgement generated by the portal.

Entries are then evaluated by the department, and winners are announced and felicitated at a national ceremony.

How winners are selected

Entries are evaluated by the Department of Water Resources, RD and GR against the water-conservation outcomes each applicant can demonstrate. The department looks for measurable results: area brought under rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharged, water saved or reused, or the reach and impact of an awareness effort — rather than intentions or plans alone. Because the awards span categories as varied as states, districts, panchayats, industries and NGOs, entrants are judged within their own category so that, for example, a gram panchayat is not compared directly against a large industry.

Shortlisted entries may be verified before the final selection, and winners are announced and felicitated at a national ceremony where the citation, trophy and cash prize are presented.

Why the National Water Awards matter

India faces mounting pressure on both surface water and groundwater. By publicly rewarding states, districts, panchayats, industries and civil-society organisations that have adopted a all-round approach to water conservation, the Ministry of Jal Shakti uses the awards to spread proven practices, rainwater harvesting, groundwater augmentation, water-use efficiency, and recycling and reuse, and to encourage others to follow. The recognition also gives winning bodies a credible example to point to when scaling up their own water programmes.

Help and where to verify

• National Water Awards helpline: 011-23354649
• Email: nwa-dowr@gov.in
• National Awards Portal: awards.gov.in, for the current call for entries and the nomination form
• Ministry of Jal Shakti / DoWR portal: jalshakti-dowr.gov.in

Because the categories, prize amounts and application windows are notified afresh for each edition, applicants should confirm the current details from the official award notification and the National Awards Portal before entering.