Gujarat’s Water Resources and Water Supply Minister Shri Ishwarsinh Patel announced that the “Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan (SSJA)” — the state’s flagship water conservation and groundwater recharge campaign — has increased Gujarat’s water storage capacity by 20,789 lakh cubic feet in 2026, taking the cumulative increase over the past 8 years (2018-2026) to 1,38,039 lakh cubic feet. The current edition was launched on 23 February 2026 from Gandhinagar by Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel. The campaign is aligned with PM Modi’s national “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” — launched on 22 March 2021 (World Water Day) under the theme “Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls” — and complements the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative (launched September 2024 from Surat by PM Modi). It is implemented by 6 Gujarat departments with MGNREGA convergence and jan bhagidari (public participation).
Context
What is the Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan (SSJA)?
- Type: Gujarat’s flagship state-level water conservation + groundwater recharge campaign.
- First Launched: 2018 by Gujarat Government.
- Current Edition: 2026 — launched on 23 February 2026 in Gandhinagar by CM Shri Bhupendra Patel.
- Advanced Start Reason: Holi fell on 3 March 2026 — advanced launch to avoid worker return-home delays.
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What are the goals of SSJA?
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| Goal | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water Storage | Boost surface water storage capacity |
| Groundwater Recharge | Improve water table levels |
| Climate-Resilient Infrastructure | Buffer against droughts + erratic monsoons |
| Community Participation (Jan Bhagidari) | Empower Gram Panchayats + civil society |
| Employment Generation | Rural livelihoods via MGNREGA convergence |
| Restoration of Traditional Water Bodies | Revive johads, baolis, tanks, check dams |
What is the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA)?
- Full Form: Jal Shakti Abhiyan (Water Power Campaign).
- Launched: 1 July 2019 by Union Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
- Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti (formed May 2019 by merging Ministry of Water Resources + Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation).
- Union Minister of Jal Shakti (current): Shri C.R. Patil.
- Initial coverage: 256 water-stressed districts (per CGWB).
- Not conducted in 2020 due to COVID.
- Renamed to “JSA: Catch the Rain” from 2021, covering all blocks in all districts.
What is "Catch the Rain"?
- Launched: 22 March 2021 (World Water Day) by PM Modi.
- Theme: “Catch the rain, where it falls, when it falls”.
- Launched under: National Water Mission (originally March 2020) + expanded as JSA-CTR under Ministry of Jal Shakti in 2021.
- 2024 Theme: “Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti” (Women’s Power for Water Power).
- 2025: Launched from Panchkula, Haryana by CR Patil in 148 districts.
What is Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari?
- Launched by PM Modi: 6 September 2024 from Surat, Gujarat via video conference.
- Purpose: Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for rainwater harvesting + groundwater recharge.
- Gujarat pilot: 24,800 recharge structures targeted via CSR + government + industry.
- Nationwide: 10.9+ lakh recharge structures identified; 9+ lakh completed (per JSJB portal).
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to the Sujalam Sufalam Jal Abhiyan (SSJA), consider the following statements:
- SSJA is Gujarat’s flagship state-level water conservation and groundwater recharge campaign.
- Its 2026 edition was launched on 23 February 2026 in Gandhinagar by Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel.
- The 2026 edition has increased Gujarat’s water storage capacity by 20,789 lakh cubic feet and generated ~2.30 lakh man-days of employment.
- SSJA is a Central Government scheme administered by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(Statement 4 is wrong; SSJA is a Gujarat State Government campaign, NOT a Central Government scheme.)
Q2. With reference to the achievements of SSJA, consider the following statements:
- Over the last 8 years (2018-2026), the cumulative increase in Gujarat’s water storage capacity has been 1,38,039 lakh cubic feet.
- By May 2026, 13,315 water conservation works had been completed across the state.
- These included 2,450 pond deepenings, 3,661 check dam desiltings, and 1,160 check dam repairs.
- The 2026 edition also cleaned 6,260 km of canals and 12,770 km of drainage channels.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(Statement 4 is wrong; the 2026 edition cleaned 626 km of canals and 1,277 km of drainage channels — NOT 6,260 km and 12,770 km respectively.)
Answer Key
- (c) — Statement 4 wrong: SSJA is a State scheme, not a Central Government scheme.
- (c) — Statement 4 wrong: 626 km canals + 1,277 km drains, not 6,260/12,770.
