Mission Amrit Sarovar is a rural water conservation mission launched on 24 April 2022, during Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, to construct or rejuvenate at least 75 Amrit Sarovars (ponds) in every district of India – more than 50,000 nationally – so that villages have durable water bodies for irrigation, groundwater recharge and livelihoods.
What Is Mission Amrit Sarovar?
- Launched: 24 April 2022 (National Panchayati Raj Day) by the Prime Minister, as a tribute to 75 years of Independence.
- Target: at least 75 Amrit Sarovars per district; national target of 50,000 water bodies by 15 August 2023.
- Norms: each sarovar covers at least 1 acre with a water-holding capacity of about 10,000 cubic metres; it is developed with people’s participation and a Panchayat-approved plan.
- Ministry: the Ministry of Rural Development is the nodal ministry, working through a whole-of-government approach.
How It Is Implemented
- Eight Central ministries and departments take part: Rural Development, Land Resources, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Water Resources, Panchayati Raj, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Railways, and Road Transport and Highways.
- BISAG-N (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics) is the technical partner, using geospatial technology to select sites, plan and monitor the work through the Amrit Sarovar portal.
- Funds come by convergence: Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, the Watershed Development Component of PMKSY, the 15th Finance Commission grants to panchayats, state schemes and public contributions (crowd funding, shramdaan).
- Soil excavated from the ponds is used in nearby railway and highway projects, which is why the Railways and Road Transport ministries are partners.
- Each sarovar has a user group and a freedom fighter’s family or a local dignitary associated with it; the national flag is hoisted at Amrit Sarovar sites on Independence Day.
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Progress
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- More than 1 lakh sites were identified and work started on over 80,000; the 50,000 target was crossed before 15 August 2023, and more than 68,000 Amrit Sarovars had been completed by that date.
- Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu are among the states with the largest numbers; some states such as West Bengal, Punjab, Telangana, Kerala, Haryana and Bihar have lagged behind the 75-per-district goal.
- In 2025 the Ministry of Rural Development moved the mission into a second phase, with a stress on water availability, maintenance and community user groups.
Why It Matters
- Improves groundwater recharge and surface storage in water-stressed rural blocks; supports irrigation, fisheries, duck rearing and other livelihoods.
- Creates MGNREGS employment and durable community assets.
- Links to the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign, the Atal Bhujal Yojana and the Jal Jeevan Mission’s goal of sustainable sources.
Important Facts for Examsmost asked
- Launched 24 April 2022; part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav; nodal ministry – Rural Development.
- Target: 75 Amrit Sarovars per district; 50,000 nationally by 15 August 2023 – exceeded (68,000+).
- Each sarovar: at least 1 acre, about 10,000 cubic metres capacity.
- Eight ministries and departments; technical partner – BISAG-N (Gandhinagar).
- Funded through convergence of MGNREGS, PMKSY-Watershed, 15th Finance Commission grants and state schemes.
FAQs
Who selects the site of an Amrit Sarovar?
The gram sabha approves the site and the plan; the district collector oversees the mission and the site is geotagged on the Amrit Sarovar portal with BISAG-N’s support.
Is Mission Amrit Sarovar a new scheme with its own budget?
No. It has no separate budget line; it converges existing schemes such as MGNREGS and PMKSY-WDC, plus public participation.
Why is Mission Amrit Sarovar asked in NABARD exams?
Water conservation, rural infrastructure and MGNREGS convergence are core ARD themes; the launch date, per-district target, sarovar norms and the technical partner are the usual questions.
