- Why in news
- On 2 March 2026, the 21st Central Monitoring Committee on river rejuvenation met under the Jal Shakti Secretary. It reviewed State-wise progress on polluted river stretches and sewage treatment.
- What it is
- The Central Monitoring Committee on river rejuvenation reviews how States implement Action Plans to clean polluted river stretches. The stretches are identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) from water quality data. The work sits within the wider mission for Ganga and river rejuvenation run by the Jal Shakti Ministry and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
- Chair
- The meeting was chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- Basis of review
- The review of polluted stretches used the CPCB's 2025 report, and progress on State Action Plans was examined.
- Priority areas
- Priorities include closing sewage treatment gaps, better STP performance, industrial pollution control, reuse of treated wastewater and floodplain demarcation.
- Monitoring
- States were directed to enable real-time monitoring for transparency and accountability.
- LiDAR plus drone data
- The initiative is described as the first of its kind to couple LiDAR scientific data with drone-survey visual data.
- OCEMS and Ganga Pulse
- STPs are monitored through Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring Systems tracking BOD, COD, DO, pH and TSS. These feed the public Ganga Pulse dashboard.
- Treated water reuse
- States were directed to finish policies for safe reuse of treated water, aligned to the national framework.
Don’t confuse with CMC vs NMCG: The Central Monitoring Committee is a review forum on river rejuvenation. NMCG is the implementing body for Namami Gange, headed by a Director General.
Don’t confuse with CPCB vs State Pollution Control Boards: CPCB is the national body that reports on polluted stretches. State Pollution Control Boards work at State level and attend such reviews.
Don’t confuse with BOD vs COD: BOD is the oxygen microbes need to break down organic matter. COD is the oxygen needed to chemically oxidise all pollutants. DO is the oxygen dissolved in water.
Environment: Prelims tests bodies, programmes and the law behind them; Mains asks why plans fall short.
Why it matters
- Regular review pushes States to turn sewage infrastructure into actual river water quality gains.
- Real-time data and drain mapping move river cleaning from building plants to checking whether they work.
- Treated water reuse eases pressure on freshwater and cuts discharge into the river.
Problems
- New polluted stretches and deterioration in some segments show gains are uneven.
- Built STP capacity is often under-used, and compliance and timely execution lag.
- Many STPs are built but run poorly or below capacity, so compliance monitoring is needed.
- Unmapped drains and untreated sewage from small drains still carry the pollution load.
Way forward
- Use time-bound, outcome-based targets with real-time monitoring of STPs and industrial discharge.
- Scale up reuse of treated wastewater and complete floodplain demarcation.
- Tie dashboard findings to field validation by District Ganga Committees and to penalties for non-compliant STPs.
- Notify state reuse policies with clear targets and an enabling environment.
Put in your answer
Polluted stretch trend: Polluted river stretches identified in 2018, 2022 and 2025 show an overall fall since 2018, though some States added new ones.
Utilisation over creation: Water quality depends on using infrastructure effectively, along with compliance and timely execution, not just building it.
Ganga Pulse portal: STP performance is publicly disclosed on the Ganga Pulse portal, an example of transparency in pollution monitoring.
Drain-based planning: Mapping primary, secondary and tertiary drains and their pollution load will help prepare accurate DPRs.
- 2015Mains GS3 · Q15Discuss Namami Gange and NMCG, causes of mixed results, and quantum leaps needed
- 2024Mains GS3 · Q7Mitigation measures and government initiatives against industrial pollution of rivers
- 2013Mains GS3 · Q20National Water Policy, and strategies for Ganges river pollution control and management
- 2014Prelims Q14Reasons besides poaching for decline of Ganges River Dolphins, including dams and fertilizers
- 2014Prelims Q96Which statements on Animal Welfare Board, NTCA, and NGRBA chairmanship are correct
- 2016Prelims Q23Key features of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), including chairmanship rotation
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Polluted river stretches (CPCB 2025 report) and sewage gaps are a lasting topic. Review meeting gives few facts a statement can turn on.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.