WORLD WATER DAY

NEWS: Emphasis was laid on spreading awareness about preserving natural water resources and making surroundings greener

ABOUT

• Highlight water scarcity crisis and need for sustainable water management of freshwater resources.
• Celebrated on – 22 March.
• Proposed at United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1993.
• Coordinating Body – UN-Water.
• Associated SDG – Sustainable Development Goal 6 to ensure availability & sustainable management of water.

Highlights, 2026

• Theme, 2026- “Water and Gender”
• Campaign slogan “Where water flows, equality grows”.
• This year’s focus addresses the disproportionate impact of water scarcity on women and girls
• Women and girls spend approximately 250 million hours every day collecting water, often at the expense of education and income.
• Despite being primary water managers in households, women are often excluded from formal water governance and decision-making.
• Lack of safe water and sanitation facilities àimpacts the health, dignity, and safety of women, particularly during puberty and childbirth.

India’s Water Governance Architecture

• Nodal Ministryà Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Created in – 2019 by merging: Ministry of Water Resources and Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation.
• NITI Aayog Index – Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) – Ranks states on water management performance.
• Water Stress Threshold – Occurs when Per capita availability < 1700 cubic meters/year.