National Water Awards 2025
Table of Contents
The National Water Awards, instituted by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, recognise outstanding achievements in water conservation, management, and sustainable practices. These awards play a crucial role in promoting Jal Samridh Bharat a water-secure and responsible India. The 6th National Water Awards (2024 cycle) were announced on 11 November 2025 with 46 winners across 10 categories, selected after rigorous evaluation and ground verification.
What Are the National Water Awards?
The National Water Awards were launched in 2018 to encourage individuals, institutions, and states to adopt innovative and sustainable water practices.
The awards aim to:
- Promote water conservation & efficient management
- Recognize successful water governance models
- Support India’s vision of Jal Samridh Bharat
- Encourage community participation in water security
The awards are administered by the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
National Water Awards 2025

- 46 winners across 10 categories
- Maharashtra wins Best State
- Navi Mumbai wins Best ULB
- Dubbiganipalli (AP) wins Best Village Panchayat – Joint First
- Award ceremony on 18 November 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan
- Awards conferred by President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu
Category-wise Winners: National Water Awards 2024 (Announced 2025)
1. Best State
| Rank | State |
|---|---|
| 1st | Maharashtra |
| 2nd | Gujarat |
| 3rd | Haryana |
2. Best District (Zone-wise)
| Zone | Winner | State |
|---|---|---|
| East | Rajnandgaon | Chhattisgarh |
| West | Khargone | Madhya Pradesh |
| North | Mirzapur | Uttar Pradesh |
| South | Tirunelveli | Tamil Nadu |
| North-East | Sepahijala | Tripura |
3. Best Urban Local Body (ULB)
| Rank | ULB | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Navi Mumbai | Maharashtra |
| 2nd | Bhavnagar | Gujarat |
| 3rd (Joint) | Nabadiganta Industrial Township | West Bengal |
| 3rd (Joint) | Agra | Uttar Pradesh |
4. Best Institution (Other Than School/College)
Inside-Campus Category
- IIT Gandhinagar (Gujarat) – First (Joint)
- ICAR-CCARI Goa – First (Joint)
- BITS Pilani – Second (Joint)
- Islamic University of Science & Technology, J&K – Second (Joint)
Outside-Campus Category
- Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University Hisar (Haryana) – First (Joint)
- Regional Chief Conservator of Forests Berhampur Circle (Odisha) – First (Joint)
5. Best Water User Association
| Rank | Winner | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Vettaikaranpudur Canal Odayakulam WUA | Tamil Nadu |
| 2nd | Kanifnath WUA | Maharashtra |
| 3rd | Kharlan WUA | Rajasthan |
6. Best Civil Society Organisation
| Rank | Organisation | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Banas Dairy | Gujarat |
| 2nd | Ambuja Foundation | Rajasthan |
| 3rd | Art of Living | Karnataka |
7. Best Village Panchayat
| Rank | Village Panchayat | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1st (Joint) | Dubbiganipalli, Annamayya District | Andhra Pradesh |
| 1st (Joint) | Payam | Kerala |
| 2nd (Joint) | Kaweshwar | Madhya Pradesh |
| 2nd (Joint) | Murugummi, Prakasham | Andhra Pradesh |
| 3rd (Joint) | Balapuram | Tamil Nadu |
| 3rd (Joint) | Dumarpani | Chhattisgarh |
8. Best School or College
| Rank | School/College | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1st (Joint) | Krishna Public School | Chhattisgarh |
| 1st (Joint) | Army Public School | West Bengal |
| 2nd | BHSS Zainakote | J&K |
| 3rd (Joint) | Malusanta Govt Nodal HSS | Odisha |
| 3rd (Joint) | JBAV Ranchi | Jharkhand |
9. Best Industry
| Rank | Industry | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Apollo Tyres | Tamil Nadu |
| 2nd | Hero MotoCorp | Haryana |
| 3rd | Jhajjar Power Ltd | Haryana |
10. Best Individual for Excellence in Water Sector
| Zone | Winner | State |
|---|---|---|
| East | Shri Kishore Jaiswal | Bihar |
| West | Shri Bajrang Lal Jaithu | Rajasthan |
| North | Shri Mohan Chandra Kandpal | Uttarakhand |
| South | Shri Podili Rajasekhara Raju | Andhra Pradesh |
Exam-Relevant Facts
- Launched: 2018
- Organised by: DoWR, RD & GR
- Ministry: Jal Shakti
- 2024 cycle winners: Announced in Nov 2025
- Total categories: 10
- Total winners: 46
- Evaluation done by: CWC & CGWB
- Objective: Promote Jal Samridh Bharat
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the National Water Awards?
They are national-level awards recognizing excellence in water conservation, launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
How many categories are included in the National Water Awards?
There are 10 categories, covering states, districts, ULBs, institutions, industries, WUAs, civil societies, and individuals.
Which state won National Water Award in 2025?
Maharashtra won First Prize.
What is the purpose of these awards?
To promote awareness, motivate community participation, and encourage sustainable water management.
National Water Awards started in which year?
National Water Awards were started in 2018. The current year 2025 edition was 6th.
Source: PIB

