The Ministry of Jal Shakti is responsible for laying down policy guidelines and programmes for the development and regulation of country's water resources. The Ministry has been allocated the following functions:-

1.Overall planning, policy formulation, coordination and guidance in the water resources sector.
2.Technical guidance, scrutiny, clearance and monitoring of the irrigation, flood control and multi-purpose
projects (major/medium).
3.General infrastructural, technical and research support for development.
4.Providing special Central Financial Assistance for specific projects and assistance in obtaining External
Finance from World Bank and other agencies.
5.Overall policy formulation, planning and guidance in respect of Minor Irrigation and Command Area
Development, administration and monitoring of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes and promotion of
Participatory Irrigation Management.
6.Overall planning for the development of Ground Water Resources, establishment of utilizable resources and
formulation of policies for exploitation, overseeing of and support to State level activities in ground
water development.
7.Formulation of national water development perspective and the determination of the water balance of
different basins/sub-basins for consideration of possibilities of inter-basin transfers.
8.Coordination, mediation and facilitation in regard to the resolution of differences or disputes relating to
Inter-State Rivers and in some instances overseeing of implementation of inter-state projects.
9.Operation of the central network for flood forecasting and warning on inter-state rivers, provision of
central assistance for some State Schemes in special cases and preparation of flood control master plans
for rivers Ganga and Brahmaputra.
10.Talks and negotiations with neighboring countries, with regard to river waters, water resources
development projects and the operation of the Indus Water Treaty.
11.Ensure effective abatement of pollution and rejuvenation of the river Ganga by adopting a river basin
approach to promote inter-sectoral co-ordination for comprehensive planning and management.