The River Basin Management Scheme: Strengthening Water Governance

• River Basin Management (RBM) Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme of the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR,RD&GR), Ministry of Jal Shakti, promoting basin-level integrated planning for surface and ground water.
• Continues into 16th Finance Commission cycle (2026–27 to 2030–31) with ₹2,183 crore outlay, 100% Centrally funded.
• UPSC relevance: intersects federalism (water as State subject), inter-state river disputes, NE region development, and trans-boundary geopolitics (Indus, Brahmaputra, Teesta).