LAUNCHED 2019 • GROUNDWATER

Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL)

Community-led sustainable groundwater management.

2019
Year Launched
7 States
Initial Coverage
MoJS
Lead Ministry
📌 Why It Matters

India is the largest user of groundwater in the world, and many regions face depleting aquifers. Atal Jal shifts the focus to community participation and demand-side management — making it an important environment and water-security topic.

Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL) was launched on 25 December 2019 (the birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee). It is a central scheme aimed at improving groundwater management through community participation in identified water-stressed areas across several states.

🎯 Key Objectives

  • Promote sustainable groundwater management with community participation.
  • Improve the source sustainability for water supply in priority areas.
  • Encourage demand-side management of groundwater at the panchayat level.
  • Strengthen water-user associations and data-based decision-making.

📋 Key Facts

Launched 25 December 2019 (Good Governance Day)
Lead Ministry Ministry of Jal Shakti
Initial Coverage 7 water-stressed states
Key Feature Community participation & demand-side management
⚡ Exam Pointers
  • Launched on 25 December 2019 (Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birth anniversary).
  • Implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
  • Focus: community-led, sustainable groundwater management.

📝 Practice MCQs

Test Yourself — 5 Questions

Q1. In which year was the Atal Bhujal Yojana launched?

a) 2017   b) 2018   c) 2019   d) 2020

✔ Answer: c) 2019

Q2. Atal Bhujal Yojana is primarily related to:

a) Solar energy   b) Groundwater management   c) Crop insurance   d) Housing

✔ Answer: b) Groundwater management

Q3. Which ministry implements the Atal Bhujal Yojana?

a) Ministry of Jal Shakti   b) Ministry of Agriculture   c) Ministry of Environment   d) Ministry of Power

✔ Answer: a) Ministry of Jal Shakti

Q4. A core feature of Atal Jal is:

a) Industrial water use   b) Community participation   c) River linking   d) Desalination

✔ Answer: b) Community participation

Q5. Atal Bhujal Yojana was launched on which occasion?

a) Independence Day   b) Good Governance Day   c) Republic Day   d) Gandhi Jayanti

✔ Answer: b) Good Governance Day