{"id":85872,"date":"2026-09-29T18:21:54","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T12:51:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=85872"},"modified":"2026-09-29T18:22:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T12:52:39","slug":"india-reservoir-storage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/29-09-2026\/india-reservoir-storage","title":{"rendered":"India\u2019s Reservoir Storage At 70%: At 10-Year Low\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Agriculture; Water Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/24-09-2026\/india-drought-stress-monsoon-risks\"><strong>southwest monsoon withdraws<\/strong><\/a> recently, India\u2019s reservoir storage remains below the decadal average, raising concerns over irrigation, drinking water and hydropower.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Highlights<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>According to the <strong>Central Water Commission (CWC)<\/strong> live reservoir storage report dated <strong>September 24, 2026<\/strong>, water stored in <strong>178 major reservoirs<\/strong> stands at about <strong>70% of total capacity<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is below the <strong>10-year average of 76.62%<\/strong> and the <strong>79% storage recorded during the same period in 2025<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India\u2019s cumulative rainfall was <strong>12% below normal<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The monsoon accounts for <strong>more than 70% of India\u2019s annual rainfall<\/strong>, making it crucial for replenishing reservoirs, groundwater and surface-water systems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The situation coincides with <strong>drought declarations in parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e1ecdd\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"988\" height=\"632\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-225.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-85873\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e1ecdd; aspect-ratio:1.5633360474584157;width:560px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-225.png 988w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-225-300x192.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-225-768x491.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 988px) 100vw, 988px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Regional Reservoir Status<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>South India (Most Concerning): <\/strong>The southern region comprising <strong>Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu<\/strong> has recorded the lowest reservoir storage.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Current storage: <strong>27.926 BCM (50% of capacity)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Previous year: <strong>87.25%<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rainfall: <strong>23% below normal<\/strong> as of September 28<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The sharp decline has implications for irrigation, drinking-water availability and hydropower generation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>East and Northeast India: <\/strong>Across <strong>31 reservoirs<\/strong> in Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Tripura and West Bengal:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Storage: <strong>16.157 BCM (73% of capacity)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seasonal rainfall deficit: around <strong>25%<\/strong> in much of the region, except Odisha and some parts of West Bengal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Northern India: <\/strong>The <strong>11 reservoirs<\/strong> in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan show a substantial decline:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>2026: <strong>62% (12.431 BCM)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2025: <strong>92.3%<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Western and Central India:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa:<\/strong> 32.664 BCM or <strong>84.61%<\/strong>, compared with <strong>95.79% in 2025<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand:<\/strong> 41.568 BCM or <strong>85.55%<\/strong>, against <strong>91.89% in 2025<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Monsoon Deficit and El Ni\u00f1o<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The southwest monsoon contributes <strong>over 70% of India\u2019s annual rainfall <\/strong>and replenishes reservoirs, groundwater and other surface-water bodies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>However, cumulative rainfall was <strong>12% below normal<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>June recorded a deficit of <strong>35.4%<\/strong>, August <strong>16.3%<\/strong>, while July was around <strong>1% above normal<\/strong> and September 1\u201328 recorded a <strong>5% deficit<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The<strong> strengthening El Ni\u00f1o<\/strong>, a periodic warming of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, has been associated with <strong>increased rainfall variability<\/strong> and <strong>prolonged dry spells.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>However, ENSO is not the sole determinant of Indian monsoon performance; regional atmospheric and oceanic factors also influence rainfall.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/24-09-2026\/india-drought-stress-monsoon-risks\"><strong>Implications for India<\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Agriculture:<\/strong> Reduced irrigation availability and greater dependence on groundwater.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Drinking water:<\/strong> Stress on urban and rural water supplies during the dry season.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hydropower:<\/strong> Lower reservoir levels can constrain electricity generation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Food security:<\/strong> Water shortages may affect crop yields and agricultural incomes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Inter-state water relations:<\/strong> Scarcity can intensify disputes over shared river waters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Drought vulnerability:<\/strong> Poor monsoon performance can translate into hydrological and agricultural drought even when annual rainfall deficits appear moderate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India needs to move from <strong>rainfall-dependent crisis management to integrated water-resource management<\/strong>. Priorities should include:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Basin-level water budgeting and reservoir coordination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expansion of <strong>rainwater harvesting and aquifer recharge<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Micro-irrigation and water-efficient cropping patterns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Greater use of real-time reservoir and groundwater data.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drought-resilient agriculture and climate-informed crop planning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rejuvenation of traditional water bodies and wetlands.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengthening <strong>early-warning and anticipatory drought-management systems<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Central Water Commission (CWC)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is a premier <strong>technical organisation under the Department of Water Resources, River Development &amp; Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Facts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Established:<\/strong> 1945, initially as the <em>Central Waterways, Irrigation and Navigation Commission<\/em>; it was renamed the <strong>Central Water Commission in 1951<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Headquarters:<\/strong> New Delhi.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Chairperson:<\/strong> Headed by a <strong>Chairman<\/strong>, who is also an ex-officio Secretary-level officer of the Government of India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Core Mandate:<\/strong> It provides technical support and advice to the Union Government and State Governments on <strong>water resources development and management<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Major areas of work:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Assessment of <strong>surface-water resources<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Planning and development of <strong>river basins<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Design and safety of <strong>dams and reservoirs<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Flood forecasting<\/strong> and hydrological monitoring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monitoring of <strong>reservoir storage<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Irrigation and hydropower-related water-resource projects<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Studies related to <strong>inter-State river and water-resource issues<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hydrological data collection and dissemination<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/central-water-commission-cwc-live-reservoir-storage-report-september-seventy-percent-capacity-south-india-crisis-el-nino-10898033\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source: IE<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> As southwest monsoon withdraws recently, India\u2019s reservoir storage remains below the decadal average, raising concerns over irrigation, drinking water and hydropower. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> Key Highlights <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> According to the Central Water Commission (CWC) live reservoir storage report dated September 24, 2026, water stored in 178 major reservoirs stands at about 70% of total capacity.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> It is below the 10-year average of 76.62% and the 79% storage recorded during the same period in 2025. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/29-09-2026\/india-reservoir-storage\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85872"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85872\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":85875,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85872\/revisions\/85875"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}