In this present study an attempt has been made to enhance the productivity of a basin type single slope active solar still with improved condensation technique. A new design having additional condensing cover has been proposed and study of its performance was carried out throughout the year. Due to extra condensing surface, higher yield was observed as compared to conventional single slope still. It was experimentally found that water depth, shading on condensing surface and material of extra condensing surface have significant roles in the distillate output of the proposed new design. The yield of the proposed solar still was found to be 3.015 kg/m(2)/day on a particular day in April '12 which was about 25% more than that of a conventional solar still running in parallel under the same climatic conditions. This paper also aimed at finding an optimum design condition of a new model for better productivity. Additional increment in yield up to 14.5% was also observed with further modifications in the design. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.