Schemes / Portal 28 October 2026
Union Jal Shakti Minister Launches 'Punah Bharan' App for Scientific Groundwater Recharge
Why in the News?
Union Minister of Jal Shakti, **C.R. Paatil**, launched the **'Punah Bharan'** mobile application and web portal to facilitate scientific, geospatial-technology-driven groundwater recharge planning across India.
Key Features / Major Points:
- Developing Agencies: Developed by **BISAG-N** (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics) in collaboration with the **National Water Mission (NWM)** under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- Key Capabilities:
- Enables users to identify potential artificial recharge zones within a **3-kilometer radius** of their location.
- Suggests optimal artificial recharge structures based on hyper-local environmental and geological conditions.
- Web Portal Features: Provides village-level Artificial Recharge Structure (ARS) zonation maps, Geographic Information System (GIS) tools, and thematic layers for sustainable water management.
- Data Integration: Utilizes comprehensive datasets regarding rainfall, groundwater yield, water levels, slope, and drainage patterns.
Static GK Facts:
- Ministry of Jal Shakti:
- Formed: **May 2019** (by merging the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation and the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation).
- Union Cabinet Minister: C.R. Paatil.
- National Water Mission (NWM):
- One of the 8 National Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
- Flagship Campaign: **"Catch the Rain"** campaign.
- BISAG-N:
- Autonomous National Institute under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), located in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):
Q: Which Union Minister launched the 'Punah Bharan' mobile application for groundwater recharge planning?
A: C.R. Paatil (Union Minister of Jal Shakti)
Q: Which organization developed the 'Punah Bharan' app in collaboration with the National Water Mission?
A: BISAG-N (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics)
Q: Up to what radius can the 'Punah Bharan' app identify potential artificial recharge zones for users?
A: 3 Kilometers
Q: In which year was the Ministry of Jal Shakti constituted by the Government of India?
A: 2019
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