Daily Current Affairs : 8-November-2023
India confronts a profound water crisis, imperiling millions of lives and livelihoods. Approximately 600 million Indians endure high to extreme water stress, with nearly 200,000 annual deaths attributed to insufficient safe water access. Projections indicate that by 2030, India’s water demand will double the available supply, potentially resulting in a 6% loss in GDP. The nation is teetering on the brink of a groundwater risk tipping point, where irreversible environmental changes become a stark reality.
What is the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI)?
Introduced in 2018 by NITI Aayog, the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) is a comprehensive tool designed to tackle India’s water crisis. Developed in collaboration with key ministries, its objectives include enhancing water resource management, providing an annual snapshot of the water sector’s status, and evaluating state/UT water management performance. The CWMI promotes data-driven policy decisions, fostering competitive and cooperative federalism while facilitating data access for researchers and entrepreneurs.
Themes and Indicators
The CWMI evaluates state progress based on 28 indicators across nine themes, encompassing topics such as groundwater and surface water restoration, irrigation, watershed development, water supply, and governance. This multifaceted approach enables a nuanced understanding of the diverse water management challenges faced by different states.
NITI Aayog’s Decision to Make CWMI ‘Internal’
Despite the initial public release of CWMI reports, NITI Aayog has now designated the 2018-19 and 2019-20 editions for “internal use.” The move follows the 2019-20 report ranking Gujarat as the top-performing state, with consistent improvements. NITI Aayog has sought the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti’s input on the utility and applicability of the Index, but as of now, there has been no response. Meanwhile, the pending third and fourth editions underscore the urgency of addressing water scarcity, projecting a decline in average annual per capita water availability from 1,545 cubic meters in 2011 to 1,486 cubic meters by 2021.
Important Points:
- India faces a severe water crisis, with approximately 600 million people experiencing high to extreme water stress and nearly 200,000 annual deaths due to inadequate safe water access.
- By 2030, India’s water demand is projected to double the available supply, potentially leading to a 6% loss in GDP.
- The nation is approaching a groundwater risk tipping point, where irreversible environmental changes become likely.
- The Composite Water Management Index (CWMI), introduced in 2018 by NITI Aayog, addresses India’s water crisis by evaluating state progress based on 28 indicators across nine themes.
- CWMI’s objectives include improving water resource management, providing an annual snapshot of the water sector’s status, and assessing state/UT water management performance.
- CWMI promotes data-driven policy decisions, competitive and cooperative federalism, and facilitates data access for researchers and entrepreneurs.
- The index covers diverse themes such as groundwater and surface water restoration, irrigation, watershed development, water supply, and governance.
- NITI Aayog has designated the 2018-19 and 2019-20 CWMI reports for “internal use” after ranking Gujarat as the top-performing state in the 2019-20 edition.
- Despite the initial public release, there has been no response from the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti regarding the utility and applicability of the CWMI.
- The pending third and fourth editions of CWMI underscore the urgency of addressing water scarcity, projecting a decline in average annual per capita water availability from 1,545 cubic meters in 2011 to 1,486 cubic meters by 2021.
Why In News
NITI Aayog has reportedly designated the ‘Composite Water Management Index’ reports for 2018-19 and 2019-20 as for “internal use” after publicly releasing previous editions. Despite the internal designation, these reports continue to serve as crucial tools for assessing state-level water management, providing valuable insights into India’s water challenges and ranking states based on 28 parameters.
MCQs about Composite Water Management Index (CWMI)
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What is the primary focus of the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI)?
A. Assessing agricultural productivity
B. Evaluating state progress in water management
C. Ranking states based on population density
D. Monitoring air quality
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What does the essay project regarding India’s water availability by 2021?
A. Increase in per capita water availability
B. Stable per capita water availability
C. Decline in per capita water availability
D. No change in per capita water availability
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Which ministry did NITI Aayog reach out to discuss the utility of the Composite Water Management Index (CWMI)?
A. Ministry of Finance
B. Ministry of External Affairs
C. Ministry of Jal Shakti
D. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
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What major concern does the essay highlight regarding India’s water crisis?
A. Overabundance of water resources
B. Lack of government intervention
C. Impending groundwater risk tipping point
D. Excessive water availability
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