Cabinet approves extension of Jal Jeevan Mission till December 2028

The Union Cabinet on 10 March 2026 approved the extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission until December 2028 with a significantly enhanced financial outlay and a restructured implementation framework.

• The proposal was approved based on recommendations from the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Financial Outlay

• The total mission outlay has been increased to ₹8.69 lakh crore.
• Central assistance: ₹3.59 lakh crore.
• At the time of launch in 2019–20, the central share was ₹2.08 lakh crore, meaning an additional ₹1.51 lakh crore has been allocated.

Shift in Strategy

• The mission will transition from an infrastructure-driven approach to a citizen-centric utility model focused on sustainable rural drinking water service delivery.

Key Structural Reforms

1. Sujalam Bharat Digital Framework
   • A national digital platform called “Sujalam Bharat” will be introduced.
   • Each village will receive a unique “Sujal Gaon” or Service Area ID.
   • The system will digitally map the entire drinking water supply chain, from water source to household tap, improving monitoring, transparency, and accountability.
2. Community Participation
   • Initiative “Jal Arpan” will strengthen local involvement.
   • Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) will formally participate in commissioning and handover of water supply schemes.
3. Har Ghar Jal Certification
   • A Gram Panchayat can declare itself “Har Ghar Jal” only after confirming that adequate operation and maintenance systems are in place.
4. Jal Utsav
   • An annual community-led event to review the functioning of local water infrastructure and promote collective responsibility for water sustainability.

Progress Since Launch

• When the mission was launched in 2019, only 3.23 crore rural households (17%) had tap water connections.
• Since then, 12.56 crore additional households have been connected.

Current Status

• 15.80 crore out of 19.36 crore rural households (about 81.6%) now have tap water connections.

Target under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0

• Achieve tap water connections for all 19.36 crore rural households by December 2028.
• Focus on sustainability, governance, and long-term operation of rural water supply systems.

Source: PIB