New Delhi: NITI Aayog has unveiled a comprehensive report titled “Water Budgeting in Aspirational Blocks”, marking a major step toward improving decentralized water security and management across India. The report was formally released by Dr. V. K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog.
Aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision for Viksit Bharat @ 2047, the study highlights the urgent need for sustainable and equitable access to water across India’s varied geographic and climatic regions. Dr. Paul emphasized the importance of active community participation in water budgeting, noting that measurable improvements in water availability will directly contribute to better livelihoods and health outcomes.
A Data-Driven Approach for Local Water Management
A key feature of the initiative is the use of Varuni, a web-based water budgeting platform that supports block-level planning. The tool systematically estimates water demand across four major sectors—domestic use, livestock, agriculture, and industry—and maps available water supply sources such as surface water, groundwater, runoff, and transferred water.
The study covers 18 Aspirational Blocks across 11 states and 8 agro-climatic zones, highlighting wide variations in water availability and the need for tailored strategies. Each block’s water budget includes detailed insights into demand–supply gaps, local challenges, and actionable recommendations for strengthening water security.
A Pathway to Climate-Resilient Development
The report underscores that such diagnostic tools can shift India’s water governance towards a proactive, data-driven, and outcome-oriented framework. With increasing focus on convergence in water resource management and digital governance, water budgeting is poised to become a cornerstone of India’s journey toward climate resilience and sustainable development.
Prepared in collaboration with GIZ India, the report draws from field assessments and extensive data inputs integrated through the Varuni platform. It will aid local administrations in preparing water budgets, identifying consumption hotspots, and optimizing water-use efficiency before critical thresholds are crossed.
The launch event saw participation from officials of Central Ministries, the National Institute of Hydrology, the Centre for Water Resources Development (Kerala), and technical partners from GIZ India.
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