The River Basin Management Scheme: Strengthening Water Governance:
The Government of India has approved the continuation of the River Basin Management (RBM) Scheme for the period 2026–27 to 2030–31 with a significantly increased outlay of ₹2,183 crore.The RBM Scheme is a scientific and institutional framework under the Ministry of Jal Shakti designed for the integrated management, protection, and sustainable development of India’s river basins. It shifts water governance from localized projects to a basin-level approach, treating entire river systems—including tributaries, groundwater, and ecosystems—as a single hydrological unit. The financial outlay has jumped from ₹1,276 crore in the previous cycle to ₹2,183 crore for the 2026–31 period.The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 river link projects, with Feasibility Reports completed for 26 and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for 15.The scheme prioritizes the North Eastern Region and the Indus Basin, focusing on strategic water security in border states.The use of LiDAR and drone-based surveys has improved the accuracy of basin master plans across 11 key sub-sectors.
