In November 2025, Dr. V.K. Paul, Member of the National Institution for Transforming India Aayog (NITI) Aayog, released a report titled ‘Water Budgeting in Aspirational Blocks’, a significant step for effective water management, in New Delhi, Delhi.
- NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) partnered with CFA Institute India Private Limited via a Joint Statement of Intent (SoI) in New Delhi to boost financial literacy, ethical decision-making, and governance in India’s innovation ecosystem.
Exam Hints:
- Report: Release of Report ‘Water Budgeting in Aspirational Blocks’
- Released by: Dr V K Paul, Member of Niti Aayog
- Prepared by: NITI Aayog in collaboration with GIZ India
- Purpose: Enable informed decision-making for sustainable water management
- Tool: Varuni – web app to quantify water demand-supply gaps
- Pilot: 18 aspirational blocks across 11 states + 1 UT
- Partnership: AIM, CFA Institute India Pvt. Ltd.
- Objective: Structured capacity-building, financial literacy, ethical governance, and global best practices
- Support: ATLs, AICs, ACICs, and early-stage startups
Highlights of the Report:
Prepared by: The report was prepared by NITI Aayog in collaboration with Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) India
Water Budget: The Water Budget systematically assesses household and community water use, comparing it with available resources to identify gaps, inefficiencies, and conservation opportunities.
Objective: To support informed decision-making for sustainable water management through improved awareness, efficient utilisation, and reduction of wastage at both household and community levels.
Varuni: The water budgeting exercise uses the web-based application(app) ‘Varuni’ to plan block-level water security, estimating demand across key sectors and accounting for multiple water sources
Pilot Exercise: The application for Water Budgeting has been piloted in 18 Aspirational Blocks across 8 agro-climatic zones of the country in 11 states and 1 Union Territory (UT).
- The water budgeting exercise covers 18 aspirational blocks across 11 states, including Gangavaram (Andhra Pradesh, AP); Fatehpur (Bihar); Kukarmunda (Gujarat); Nirmand (Himachal Pradesh, HP); Rupsho (UT of Ladakh); Buxwaha, Chhaigaon Makhan, Vijaypur, Baldeogarh (Madhya Pradesh, MP); Kotri, Bhim, Abu Road (Rajasthan); Namchi (Sikkim); Andimadam (Tamil Nadu, TN); Narva (Telangana); and Gangiri, Nindaura, Kotwali (Uttar Pradesh, UP).
Block Selection: The selection of blocks was done by NITI Aayog. The criteria for selection were:
- Safe and water-stressed blocks based on the 2023 CGWB (Central Ground Water Board) Report on Dynamic Groundwater Resources of India.
- Actual tap water coverage under Jal Jeevan Mission(JJM) and degree of dependence on groundwater for household connections.
- Areas where GIZ could deploy its resources with ease.
NITI Aayog, CFA Institute Partner to Boost Financial Literacy in Innovation Ecosystem
Objective: To provide structured capacity-building, financial education, and global best practices to develop responsible, future-ready innovators in India.
Support: The partnership will provide extensive support to Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), Atal Incubation Centres (AICs), Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs), and early-stage startups.
Training Support: Under the collaboration:
- School innovators under ATLs will gain access to structured learning modules on financial literacy and ethics.
- AIM-supported incubators and startups will receive expert-led training, knowledge reports, and specialized advisory inputs aimed at strengthening financial sustainability frameworks.
- CFA charterholders will additionally contribute to incubator review processes and may be considered for advisory and governing roles.
About National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog:
Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established in – 2015
