Overview
- District authorities say they found 21 AI-generated photos on the Catch the Rain portal and have issued notices to about 20 teachers, including the District Education Officer.
- The administration maintains these images were unrelated to entries for the Jal Sanchay, Jan Bhagidari campaign that won first place and a ₹2 crore prize in November.
- Officials cite roughly 1.25–1.29 lakh documented works on the JSJB portal and random field verification by the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, including checks at more than 1,500 sites in June.
- State Congress chief Jitu Patwari alleges AI was used to fabricate water projects to secure the honor, a claim district officers reject as false.
- The award remains in place as inquiries continue and the administration attributes the controversy to confusion between the Catch the Rain and JSJB portals.