The 6th edition of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain - 2025 was launched in Panchkula, Haryana on the occasion of World Water Day on 22 March 2025 with a focus on 148 water-stressed districts of the country.

This was the first time that Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain was launched outside New Delhi.

The government of India launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan in 2019 which was later renamed as the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain in 2021. The annual campaign aims to increase water conservation awareness amongst the people and ensure community participation in water conservation projects.

The campaign is active during the monsoon season.

Who launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain - 2025 initiative?

The Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain-2025 initiative was launched by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti in partnership with the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and the Government of Haryana.

During the launch of the initiative in Panchkula, Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, and other distinguished dignitaries were present.

Theme of the 2025 Campaign

The theme of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain in 2021 is- Peoples' Action for Water Conservation - Towards Intensified Community Connect.

Launch of the “Jal-Jangal-Jan: Ek Prakritik Bandhan Abhiyan”

During the event in Panchkula, the government also launched the Jal-Jangal-Jan: Ek Prakritik Bandhan Abhiyan.

The “Jal-Jangal-Jan: Ek Prakritik Bandhan Abhiyan” has been launched by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti in partnership with the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

The campaign aims to restore ecological connections between forests and water bodies like rivers, and springs.

Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain scheme

The Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain Scheme has five major objectives. They are as follows:

(1) promotion of water conservation and rainwater harvesting,

(2) preparation of scientific plans for water conservation and enumeration, geo-tagging & making an inventory of all water bodies,

(3) Jal Shakti Kendras in all districts,

(4) focus on intensive afforestation and

(5) awareness generation amongst the public and stakeholders.

World Water Day

Since 1993, the World Water Day has been held across the globe on 22nd March.

The day is observed to raise awareness about the importance of freshwater and the need to conserve it.

The theme of the 2025 World Water Day was - Glacier Preservation.