The Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) 2.0, a pivotal flagship report, has been launched by the NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Ministry of JAL Shakti and the Ministry of Rural Development. The CWMI is an important tool instrumental in tackling India’s significant water challenges.
The Context of Water Scarcity in India
India’s facing a serious water crisis, with almost 820 million residents experiencing critical water availability. These citizens, who reside across twelve river basins, have per capita water availability nearing or less than 1000m3, which is considered the official threshold for water scarcity under the Falkenmark Index.
About the CWMI Report
NITI Aayog pioneered the Composite Water Management Index in 2018. The aim was to foster a sense of collaborative and competitive federalism between states. The CWMI provides valuable guidance to the states regarding their strengths and areas requiring improvement in water management. This nine-theme index is an evaluative tool that pinpoints where focus should be placed to secure future water.
Noteworthy Findings in CWMI 2.0
In the CWMI 2.0, states were evaluated for the reference year, 2017-18, in comparison to the base year, 2016-17. Gujarat emerged at rank one for the reference year, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
In North-Eastern and Himalayan States, Himachal Pradesh occupied the first position, trailed by Uttarakhand, Tripura, and Assam. Furthermore, Union Territories participated for the first time, with Puducherry declared as the best performer. Encouragingly, over the last three years, 80% of states demonstrated improved scores in water management.
The Falkenmark Indicator: Defining Water Scarcity
The Falkenmark Indicator, also known as the Water Stress Index, is a widely accepted measure of water scarcity. This Index calculates scarcity based on the renewable freshwater resources available per person annually.
| Per capita water availability | Condition |
|---|---|
| Below 1,700 m3 | Water stress |
| Below 1,000 m3 | Water scarcity |
| Below 500 m3 | Absolute water scarcity |
Source of Study
This essential study and its pivotal findings are sourced from the Press Information Bureau (PIB) of the Government of India.
