Evaluating Two Decades of Water Governance: Lessons in Community Ownership and Institutional Sustainability

For policy analysts and practitioners, the document serves as a repository of 'what works' in the context of a developing nation facing the dual pressures of rapid urbanization and climate-induced hydrological variability. By examining the successes and failures in the Indian landscape, the study provides a roadmap for sustainable water stewardship. It highlights that the devolution of power—not just in name, but through functional and financial support—is the critical factor in ensuring that natural resources are preserved for future generations. As India aims for universal water security, the lessons drawn from this quarter-century review are essential for refining future interventions and ensuring the resilience of water infrastructure against changing environmental conditions. UPSC Relevance: This study is highly relevant for GS Paper II (Government policies and interventions) and GS Paper III (Conservation and water resource management). Aspirants can utilize these findings in Mains answers regarding 'decentralized governance' and 'community-based development models' to justify the shift from top-down policy implementation to community-led sustainability models.