Science–Policy Dialogue on Groundwater Governance in India

Science–Policy Dialogue on Groundwater Governance: A multi-stakeholder consultation, India

As part of research into groundwater governance led by the CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS Gains, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) are organizing a science–policy dialogue on the “Atal Bhujal Yojana” (Atal Jal) scheme in India.

Millions of farmers in India rely heavily on groundwater for their livelihoods. With groundwater use increasing rapidly, concerns remain about its governance, conservation, and protection. Successful models have focused on groundwater governance through participatory groundwater management (PGM) principles. These models emphasize community involvement in monitoring and conserving water through strong institutions, scientific tools, and awareness campaigns. Recognizing this success, the government of India launched the ambitious Atal Jal scheme in 2019. The scheme prioritizes community participation in addressing water scarcity and overexploitation across seven Indian states, aligned with PGM principles.

With Atal Jal now in its fourth year, it is an opportune time to engage in dialogue to identify successful strategies, potential opportunities, and the role of science and research in improving groundwater governance through the scheme. This dialogue will bring together experts from the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Atal Jal project management unit, international research organizations, civil society organizations, national government organizations, and local communities. The dialogue aims to promote insightful discussion on sustainable water management, effective mechanisms for groundwater governance, and innovative incentive models.

The event will be held in conjunction with the CGIAR Initiative on National Policies and Strategies, which is researching the policy and institutional landscape of Atal Jal to understand in-depth policy processes, evolution of the policy landscape, and policy designs around  institution building and behaviour change.