Sarkari Yojana
Atal Bhujal Yojana
About Atal Bhujal Yojana
Launched in 2020 by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Atal Bhujal Yojana works to improve groundwater management in water-stressed areas across selected states. It strengthens institutions, builds capacity, and offers financial incentives for preparing community-led Water Security Plans, encouraging efficient water use, and slowing the rate at which groundwater levels decline. Applicants must ensure community participation, measure groundwater levels, prepare a water budget, and put together a Gram Panchayat-level Water Security Plan. The National Program Management Unit runs the scheme centrally, with State Program Management Units handling implementation at state level; Water Security Plans are submitted to District Program Management Units for review and consolidation.
Scheme Overview
Central Government
Ministry Of Water Resources,River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation
Individual
Scheme Details
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for Atal Bhujal Yojana, applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
The applicant has to be based in, or…
The applicant has to be based in, or carry out activities within, the water-stressed districts, blocks or Gram Panchayats that have been chosen under the scheme.
The applicant has to be situated in one…
The applicant has to be situated in one of the seven participating states: Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan or Uttar Pradesh.
A Water Security Plan must be drawn up…
A Water Security Plan must be drawn up by the applicant, with the community taking an active part.
The Gram Sabha must give final approval to…
The Gram Sabha must give final approval to the Water Security Plan that has been prepared.
Women must make up at least 33% of…
Women must make up at least 33% of the members of the Water User Associations or Village Water and Sanitation Committees at the Gram Panchayat level.
Local volunteers or community resource persons should be…
Local volunteers or community resource persons should be identified and trained by the applicant to operate data collection equipment.
Benefits Provided
Atal Bhujal Yojana provides the following benefits to eligible applicants:
The scheme has an overall outlay of ₹60,00,00,00,000/-…
The scheme has an overall outlay of ₹60,00,00,00,000/- over five years — ₹30,00,00,00,000/- as a World Bank loan and ₹30,00,00,00,000/- as a matching Government of India contribution.
The Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building component allocates…
The Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building component allocates ₹14,00,00,00,000/- for training, community mobilisation, and procuring equipment like Digital Water Level Recorders, rain gauges, and water quality testing kits.
The Incentive Component offers ₹46,00,00,00,000/- in rewards to…
The Incentive Component offers ₹46,00,00,00,000/- in rewards to states and Gram Panchayats that hit predefined groundwater management targets.
The scheme funds demand-side steps, including drip and…
The scheme funds demand-side steps, including drip and sprinkler micro-irrigation, using recycled/reused water for irrigation, underground pipelines, and crop diversification.
It also funds supply-side steps, such as building…
It also funds supply-side steps, such as building check dams, percolation ponds, contour trenches, sub-surface dykes, and farm ponds for artificial recharge and water conservation.
The scheme helps upgrade state-level groundwater quality labs…
The scheme helps upgrade state-level groundwater quality labs to gain accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories. Conditions
Beneficiaries must form or strengthen a Village Water…
Beneficiaries must form or strengthen a Village Water and Sanitation Committee to act as the Participatory Groundwater Management Committee.
Beneficiaries must carry out regular water budgeting —…
Beneficiaries must carry out regular water budgeting — ideally season-wise, or at least annually.
Beneficiaries must update the Water Security Plan every…
Beneficiaries must update the Water Security Plan every year to reflect changing needs and interventions.
Beneficiaries must actively run social audits to gather…
Beneficiaries must actively run social audits to gather community feedback on scheme activities.
Beneficiaries must keep proper records and submit audited…
Beneficiaries must keep proper records and submit audited financial statements and utilisation certificates to avoid having scheme funds recalled.
Documents Required
Applicants should keep the following documents ready before starting the application:
At the Application and Planning Stage
Demographic data and beneficiary census report
Demographic data and beneficiary census report
Gram Panchayat-level water budget document
Gram Panchayat-level water budget document
Gram Panchayat-level Water Security Plan
Gram Panchayat-level Water Security Plan
Gram Sabha resolution approving the Water Security Plan
Gram Sabha resolution approving the Water Security Plan
Minutes of community-level meetings
Minutes of community-level meetings
Gram Sabha attendance sheets (showing at least 20%…
Gram Sabha attendance sheets (showing at least 20% women members) At the Benefit Disbursal and Monitoring Stage
Audited financial statements of the Gram Panchayat
Audited financial statements of the Gram Panchayat
Monthly expenditure statements with supporting documentation
Monthly expenditure statements with supporting documentation
Utilisation certificates for scheme funds received
Utilisation certificates for scheme funds received
How to Apply
Online Application
Applicants can apply for Atal Bhujal Yojana through the online application process outlined below.
Accessing the Portal and Submitting Baseline Data Applicants…
Accessing the Portal and Submitting Baseline Data Applicants must log into the official Management Information System portal built for Atal Bhujal Yojana to enter baseline data. Designated community resource persons should regularly feed groundwater level, rainfall, and water quality data into the digital application to support accurate water budgeting.
Submitting the Water Security Plan for Approval Applicants…
Submitting the Water Security Plan for Approval Applicants must hold a community meeting to review the water budget and pass a formal resolution approving the final Water Security Plan, then submit it to the District Program Management Unit for review, allocation, and further action.
District and State Level Consolidation The District Program…
District and State Level Consolidation The District Program Management Unit consolidates and validates submitted plans before forwarding recommendations to the State Program Management Unit, which reviews state-level plans and passes them to the State Level Steering Committee for final budget allocation, convergence mapping, and approval. Grievance Redressal / Help & Support A dedicated online Grievance Redressal Mechanism is built into the Management Information System for quick complaint resolution. Applicants can also use the toll-free number (011-1800110121) to register and resolve grievances.
Exclusions / Who Is Not Eligible
The applicant MUST NOT utilize the scheme funds for -
- Construction of major or minor dams.
- Construction of new large-scale irrigation systems.
- Major industrial wastewater collection, treatment, and injection systems.
- Payment of salaries to government employees.
- Construction or maintenance of religious structures such as temples, mosques, churches, or tombs.
- Development of commercial ventures, including hotels, restaurants, or resorts.
- Activities of a military or paramilitary nature.
- Purchase of vehicles, land, arms, ammunition, alcohol, or tobacco.
Official Application & Website
Verify the latest eligibility, dates and instructions before applying.