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File No. CS-UTL-003 · Central Scheme · National Mission for Clean Ganga, Ministry of Jal Shakti

Namami Gange Programme

India's flagship effort to clean and restore the Ganga — sewage treatment, riverfront development, and biodiversity conservation along a river that supports 43% of India's population.

Note: this is an environmental infrastructure programme, not an individual benefit — there's no personal application. This page explains its progress and how citizens engage with it.

What this programme covers

Launched in June 2014, Namami Gange is structured around five pillars: Nirmal Ganga (pollution abatement, chiefly sewage treatment), Aviral Ganga (maintaining ecological flow), Jan Ganga (public participation), Gyan Ganga (research), and Arth Ganga (economic linkages along the river). Mission-I (2014-2021, ₹20,000 crore) built foundational sewage treatment and riverfront infrastructure; Mission-II (2021-2026, an additional ₹22,500 crore) is consolidating and scaling this work, with a focus on completing sewage treatment capacity and industrial effluent compliance. As of February 2026, 355 of 524 sanctioned projects (68%) were complete, including 76 sewerage infrastructure projects with 3,200 MLD combined treatment capacity added in the last five years alone. Biodiversity efforts have included India's first Dolphin Rescue Ambulance (inaugurated January 2026) and citizen conservation networks tracking Gangetic dolphins and gharials. Independent reporting has also noted that water quality improvements remain uneven — some monitoring stations still register high pollution levels, particularly around large pilgrim gatherings — alongside concerns about displacement of river-dependent communities from riverfront development projects.

How citizens can engage

  • Jan Ganga, the public participation pillar, runs volunteer and awareness programmes — the Ganga Praharis and Soons-Saathi networks are examples of citizen-led conservation involvement.
  • Report visible pollution, illegal discharge, or environmental violations along the river to your State Pollution Control Board or the NMCG portal.
  • Businesses and communities along the Ganga can explore Arth Ganga's economic-linkage initiatives, which aim to connect river conservation with sustainable local livelihoods.
  • If your community has been affected by a riverfront development project, your local Municipal Corporation or the State Mission for Clean Ganga is the relevant point of contact.

Where to find more information

  1. Visit nmcg.nic.in for current project status, water quality data, and Mission-II progress reports.
  2. Contact your State Mission for Clean Ganga office for local project details or to raise community concerns.
  3. Check with the Wildlife Institute of India or NMCG for volunteer opportunities in biodiversity monitoring programmes.

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