Why in the news:

The Ministry of Rural Development has changed Schedule-I of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) so that a minimum share of funds must go to water conservation, water harvesting and related works, with targets tied to the groundwater status of each block.

What exactly changed:

• Block-wise minimum share for water works
  
  • Over-exploited and Critical blocks: at least 65% of spending on water works.
    
  • Semi-critical blocks: at least 40%.
    
  • Safe blocks: at least 30%.
    
• What counts as “water works”: check dams, percolation tanks, farm ponds, recharge pits and shafts, contour trenches, drainage-line treatment, desilting and revival of traditional tanks, field channels where they aid recharge.
  
• Planning scale: the rule operates at the block level so spending matches local aquifer stress.
  

How blocks are categorised:
The Central Ground Water Board uses the stage of groundwater extraction (water drawn ÷ water recharged):

• Over-exploited: more than 100%;
  
• Critical: 90–100%;
  
• Semi-critical: 70–90%;
  
• Safe: 70% or less.
  

Why this matters:

• Water security and climate resilience: Durable recharge and storage structures raise water tables, reduce drought distress and smooth monsoon variability.
  
• Rural livelihoods and productivity: Stable water supports rabi sowing, kitchen gardens, livestock water points and micro-irrigation, lifting yields and incomes.
  
• Better asset quality: Tying funds to groundwater science reduces scattered, low-impact works and pushes ridge-to-valley planning.
  
• Convergence potential: Can be aligned with village water budgets, watershed missions, Jal Jeevan Mission, and micro-irrigation schemes.
  

Gaps and risks:

• Paper assets: Poor siting or weak designs waste money; hydrology must drive work selection.
  
• Maintenance gap: Tanks and ponds need regular desilting and repairs; earmark time and small funds for upkeep.
  
• Capacity and transparency: Trained mates, engineers, timely wage payments and strong social audit are crucial to sustain trust and outcomes.
  

Way forward :

• Prepare block water plans using groundwater maps, village water budgets and seasonal monitoring.
  
• In over-exploited and critical areas, prioritise recharge-heavy works; in safe areas, focus on storage, soil moisture and demand management.
  
• Track results: pre- and post-monsoon water levels, well yield, irrigated area, and household drinking-water days.
  
• Build skills: short courses for panchayat teams on design, quality control and maintenance.

MGNREGA — the scheme 

• Purpose: Legal guarantee of up to 100 days of wage employment in a year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work.
  
• Demand-driven: Households apply; if work is not provided within 15 days, an unemployment allowance is due.
  
• Decentralised planning: Gram Sabha identifies and prioritises works; at least half the works are executed by Gram Panchayat.
  
• Focus on durable assets: Natural resource management, especially water conservation and harvesting, drought-proofing, land development and connectivity that aid livelihoods.
  
• Wage–material balance: Expenditure aims for about 60:40 (wages to materials and skilled labour) so most money reaches workers while creating strong assets.
  
• Inclusion and transparency: At least one-third of workers should be women; social audit, muster roll transparency and time-bound wage payments are core features.
  

Exam Hook

Key takeaways

• New norms reserve a minimum share of programme funds for water works, scaled to groundwater stress: 65% (over-exploited/critical), 40% (semi-critical), 30% (safe).
  
• Science-linked spending can turn wage days into long-term water security if works follow hydrology and get maintained.
  
• Success needs block water plans, convergence with related schemes, and robust social audit.
  

UPSC Mains (150 words)
“Critically examine the decision to link rural employment-guarantee spending to groundwater categories. How can hydrology-based planning, convergence and social audit convert temporary wage support into lasting water security?”

UPSC Prelims (MCQ)
Q. In the revised framework, the minimum share of spending on water-related works is highest in which category of blocks?
(A) Safe
(B) Semi-critical
(C) Critical
(D) Over-exploited
Answer: D (tied with Critical; both require at least 65%).

One-line wrap: Jobs today, water forever—when employment funds follow groundwater science and assets are built to last.