NMCG FY26: 538.03 MLD Added via 18 Projects

NMCG adds sewage capacity through 18 projects in FY26

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Asked by UPSCPrelims 20161 PYQ

UPSC has already asked about this. Read the story with these questions in mind.

Prelims 2016Which of the following are the key features of ‘National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)’?Solve with answer

Battle Brief

In FY 2025-26 the National Mission for Clean Ganga added 538.03 MLD of sewage treatment capacity through 18 projects in five Ganga basin States. Twenty-eight STPs were completed, up from 22 the previous year, with investment of nearly ₹4,700 crore. Uttar Pradesh was a major contributor, including 55 MLD at Assi–BHU, Varanasi.

Fact File

Capacity added: 538.03 MLD via 18 projects
STPs completed: 28 (previous year: 22)
Investment: Nearly ₹4,700 crore
States: UP, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar
UP highlight: Assi–BHU Varanasi 55 MLD; Prayagraj 43 MLD; Agra 166 MLD
Tools: Drain Dashboard; Ganga Pulse Public Portal

In the news

NMCG sewage treatment capacity addition in FY 2025-26: what happened?

River cleaning fails if untreated sewage keeps pouring in. NMCG builds STPs and taps drains so the Ganga and its tributaries get less raw waste. FY26 was a busy year for finishing plants.

Prayagraj: interception and diversion of 13 drains plus Salori STP augmentation (₹331.75 crore sanctioned).
UP also: Moradabad 25 MLD (Ramganga), Shuklaganj 5 MLD, Vrindavan 13 MLD.
Uttarakhand: Udham Singh Nagar 10.3 MLD, Dehradun Sapera Basti 15 MLD, Muni ki Reti 11 MLD, small Haridwar works.
West Bengal and Bihar added capacity at several towns (e.g. North Barrackpore 30 MLD; Digha 30, Kankarbagh 35, Bhagalpur 22.5 MLD).
Some UP projects use the Hybrid Annuity Model.

Back Story

What is NMCG?

National Mission for Clean Ganga — the implementation arm of the Namami Gange Programme for sewage treatment, drain tapping and related river work.

By the numbers

Which UP projects stood out in FY26?

Selected UP capacity additions (PIB)
Location	Capacity
Assi–BHU, Varanasi	55 MLD
Prayagraj (13 drains + Salori)	43 MLD
Agra (combined)	166 MLD
Moradabad (Ramganga)	25 MLD
Vrindavan	13 MLD
Shuklaganj	5 MLD

Why examiners care

Why does NMCG sewage treatment capacity addition in FY 2025-26 matter?

Angle	What to note
Environment	Less untreated sewage into the Ganga basin.
UP	Large share of new capacity in several cities.
Monitoring	Digital dashboards for drains and STPs.

Fault Lines

What are the challenges in NMCG sewage treatment capacity addition in FY 2025-26?

Capacity addition must match actual drain tapping and plant uptime.
Hotspots remain across a long river basin.

Road Ahead

What should be done next on NMCG sewage treatment capacity addition in FY 2025-26?

Use Drain Dashboard and Ganga Pulse to keep plants and taps accountable.
Finish remaining basin projects.

Exam Radar

What can Prelims ask on NMCG sewage treatment capacity addition in FY 2025-26?

FY26: 538.03 MLD via 18 projects; 28 STPs completed.
Investment ~₹4,700 crore.
Assi–BHU Varanasi: 55 MLD.

Answer Lab

How to write about NMCG sewage treatment capacity addition in FY 2025-26 in Mains

Practice question (10 marks, 150 words): Sewage treatment capacity is necessary but not sufficient for cleaning the Ganga. Discuss with reference to recent NMCG progress.

Intro: FY26 numbers.
Why STPs and drain tapping matter.
UP and basin examples.
Monitoring tools.
Gaps and conclusion.

UPPCS Corner

What should UPPCS aspirants note?

UP cities named: Moradabad, Shuklaganj, Varanasi, Vrindavan, Prayagraj, Agra; Assi–BHU 55 MLD is the largest single UP addition cited.

How to use this in Mains

GS-III Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

As per PIB (2026-04-21): NMCG added sewage treatment capacity through 18 projects across UP, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Bihar in FY 2025-26.
Clean Ganga depends on sewage treatment.

Quotable data point
NMCG added sewage treatment capacity through 18 projects across UP, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Bihar in FY 2025-26.
PIB: Jal Shakti: NMCG FY26, 21 Apr 2026

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

NMCG sewage capacity added in FY 2025-26 was about

Answer (b) & explanation

PIB (Jal Shakti), 21 April 2026.

Practice · UPSC

The Assi–BHU STP capacity addition cited for Varanasi in FY26 is

Answer (c) & explanation

PIB (Jal Shakti), 21 April 2026.

Quick questions

Questions students ask about this

How much sewage treatment capacity did NMCG add in FY 2025-26?

538.03 MLD through 18 projects.

How many STPs were completed that year?

28, compared with 22 in the previous year.

Which Varanasi project added the most capacity among those cited?

The Assi–BHU area project, 55 MLD.