All India Water Secretaries’ Conference Held in New Delhi

The All India Water Secretaries’ Conference was held in New Delhi on 13 and 14 July 2026 under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The conference brought together around 200 senior officials, including Secretaries from States and Union Territories, for discussions on water governance and resource management.

Conference Structure and Leadership

The conference was chaired by Union Minister for Jal Shakti C. R. Patil. Minister of State Raj Bhushan Choudhary and Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, V. L. Kantha Rao, also co-chaired the event. The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation functions under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Key Agenda Areas in Water Administration

The conference covered eight priority agenda items related to water management in India. The topics included water conservation, dam safety, irrigation reforms, groundwater management, and the Catch the Rain 2026 campaign. Rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge are standard measures used in water conservation programmes in India.

Documents Released and Legal Framework

Three water management documents were released on 14 July 2026 during the conference. These included a City-level Action Plan for Reuse of Treated Water for Varanasi and an O&M Manual for Artificial Recharge and Ground Water Conservation Structures. The Dam Safety Act, 2021 provides the statutory framework for dam safety in India.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Ministry of Jal Shakti was created in 2019 by merging the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation with the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
• The Catch the Rain campaign is linked to rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge activities in India.
• The Dam Safety Act, 2021 applies to specified dams and provides for institutional arrangements for dam safety management.
• Varanasi is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in India and is located on the banks of the River Ganga.

Targets and Implementation

States resolved to implement time-bound measures for the goal of Jal Surakshit, Bharat Surakshit. A key target was the completion of the Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluation for all specified dams by December 2026.