6th National Water Awards 2024 announced by Ministry of Jal Shakti. Maharashtra wins Best State. Discover award categories, top districts, and significance for competitive exams.
6th National Water Awards 2024 Winners Announced
Government honours excellence in water conservation and management
On 11 November 2025, the 6th National Water Awards 2024 (NWA) were announced by the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, in New Delhi. These awards recognise outstanding contributions in water‑conservation, water‑management and sustainable practices across India. The winners will be formally awarded on 18 November 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, with the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, presiding over the ceremony.
Scope and significance of the awards
The 2024 edition of the National Water Awards received 751 applications via the “Rashtriya Puraskar Portal” of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). After evaluation and field verification by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), a total of 46 winners across 10 categories were selected.
Major awardees
- Best State: Maharashtra won the top honour, followed by Gujarat and Haryana.
- Best Districts (Zone‑wise):
- East Zone: Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh)
- West Zone: Khargone (Madhya Pradesh)
- South Zone: Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu)
- North Zone: Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh)
- North‑East Zone: Sepahijala (Tripura)
- Other categories included: Best Urban Local Body (e.g., Navi Mumbai – Maharashtra), Best Institution (both campus and outside campus), Best Water User Association (WUA), Best Civil Society Organisation, Best Village Panchayat, Best School/College, Best Industry, and Best Individual for Excellence in the Water Sector.
Focus on innovation and best‑practice sharing
The awards emphasise recognising not just large initiatives but also innovative models, community engagement, and sustainable water‑use practices. They aim to strengthen partnerships among government agencies, civil society and local communities while promoting India’s drive towards goal‑of‑ensuring‑clean‑water and sanitation (aligned with SDG 6).
Why This News Is Important
Relevance to aspirants
For students preparing for exams such as teaching‑positions, police, banking, railways, defence and civil services (like PSCS and IAS), this announcement is significant on multiple counts. Firstly, it highlights the national focus on the water‑sector, a cross‑cutting theme in general studies sections of many government exams. Understanding such awards helps in topics like sustainable development, environmental governance, and public policy.
Implications for policy and governance
The institution of these awards underscores the government’s prioritisation of water‑resource management, a critical issue for India given challenges such as scarcity, pollution, and climate‑change impacts. This makes the topic more than just a news item — it becomes part of the larger narrative of how India is dealing with its water‑security, governance and sustainability agenda.
Strategic value for competitive exams
Questions in general studies, interview rounds, and essay papers often reference national award schemes, their objectives, outcomes and linkages to broader national missions. Knowing the key facts about the 6th National Water Awards – including the winning states, categories, and the organising ministry – gives an edge in being able to answer questions accurately and with contextual depth.
Historical Context
Evolution of National Water Awards
The National Water Awards scheme was launched in 2018 by the Department of Water Resources (then under the Ministry of Water Resources) to encourage excellence in water‑management and to boost synergy among various stakeholders. This makes the 2024 edition the 6th cycle of the awards.
Aligning with national water missions
The awards tie into larger frameworks such as the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Atal Bhujal Yojana and overall objectives of the Ministry of Jal Shakti. These schemes emphasise sustainable groundwater management, improving rural water‑supply, and local community participation.
Importance in India’s sustainability narrative
With India’s growing population, increasing urbanisation, and climate‑induced water‑stress, awards like NWA serve not only as recognition but also as drivers of best‑practice dissemination. They support the UN‑Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and signal that water‑governance is a key pillar in India’s development architecture.
Key Takeaways from 6th National Water Awards 2024
| S.No | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | The 6th National Water Awards (2024) were announced on 11 November 2025 by the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s DoWR, RD & GR in New Delhi. |
| 2 | A total of 46 winners across 10 categories were selected from among 751 applications, following verification by CWC and CGWB. |
| 3 | Maharashtra won the “Best State” category; Gujarat and Haryana followed. |
| 4 | The award categories included Best District (zone‑wise), Best Urban Local Body, Best Institution (campus & outside), Best Water User Association, Best Civil Society, Best Village Panchayat, Best School/College, Best Industry and Best Individual. |
| 5 | The awards aim to promote innovative and sustainable water‑management practices and support India’s goal of achieving SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). |
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the National Water Awards (NWA)?
The National Water Awards are an initiative by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to recognize excellence in water conservation, management, and sustainable practices across India. They aim to promote innovative solutions and community participation in water resource management.
2. When were the 6th National Water Awards for 2024 announced?
The 6th National Water Awards for 2024 were announced on 11 November 2025, with the official award ceremony scheduled for 18 November 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
3. How many applications were received for the 2024 National Water Awards?
A total of 751 applications were submitted through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal for evaluation.
4. Which state won the ‘Best State’ award in 2024?
Maharashtra was awarded the Best State, followed by Gujarat and Haryana.
5. What are the main categories of the National Water Awards?
The awards include Best District (zone-wise), Best Urban Local Body, Best Institution, Best Water User Association, Best Civil Society Organization, Best Village Panchayat, Best School/College, Best Industry, and Best Individual for excellence in water management.
6. Which organizations are involved in evaluating the applications?
The Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) conducted evaluation and field verification of the submissions.
7. How do the National Water Awards relate to sustainable development?
The awards encourage innovative and sustainable water management practices, contributing to India’s goal of achieving SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
8. Are these awards limited to government bodies?
No, the awards are open to government bodies, civil society organizations, educational institutions, industries, and individuals demonstrating excellence in water management.
9. What zones are considered for the Best District award?
The zones include North, South, East, West, and North-East, with winners like Mirzapur (UP), Tirunelveli (TN), Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh), Khargone (MP), and Sepahijala (Tripura).
10. How can students benefit from this news for competitive exams?
Students can use this information for general studies, environment and ecology sections, essay writing, and interview preparation in exams like UPSC, state PSCs, banking, railways, and teaching exams.
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