Ministry of Jal Shakti issued the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities (Second Amendment) Order, 2026

¨     Ministry of Jal Shakti issued the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities (Second Amendment) Order, 2026

¨     Ministry of Jal Shakti issued the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities (Second Amendment) Order, 2026 on 7 August 2026.

¨     The order was published in the official Gazette on 10 August 2026.

¨     The amendment introduced a revised framework for the floodplains of the Ganga and its tributaries.

¨     For the first time, it defined the “Active Floodplain” as areas inundated during a flood with a 1-in-5-year return period.

¨     Strict restrictions on construction continue to apply in the Active Floodplain.

¨     Limited exceptions may be allowed for minor temporary structures, such as those used during religious events.

¨     A “Regulatory Zone” was created for areas that may be flooded once every 5 to 25 years.

¨     Construction in the Regulatory Zone is permitted only after obtaining official clearances.

¨     A “Warning Zone” was introduced for areas facing rare flooding with a frequency of 25 to 100 years.

¨     Construction in the Warning Zone is also subject to necessary approvals.

¨     The original 2016 order had a blanket “no-construction” provision for the floodplain.

¨     The 2026 amendment replaced this blanket restriction with a stratified, approval-based regulatory system.

¨     The framework is linked to the protection and management of the Ganga River and its floodplains.

¨     The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) operates under the broader Namami Gange Programme.