**Executive Summary**
This report, answered on February 5, 2026, addresses a parliamentary question regarding the availability of drinking water and water resources in India. It details the progress of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), which aims to provide tap water to every rural household. The mission, implemented in partnership with States, has been extended until December 2028.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) Implementation:**
* Since August 2019, the Government of India, in partnership with States, has been implementing the JJM.
* The goal is to enable every rural household to have assured potable water through tap connection (55 lpcd, BIS:10500 standard).
* Planning, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes are the responsibility of State/UT Governments.
* The Government of India provides technical and financial assistance to the States.
* **Progress on Tap Water Connections:**
* As of August 2019, 3.24 Crore (16.8%) rural households had tap water connections.
* As of February 2, 2026, an additional 12.55 Crore rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM.
* As of February 2, 2026, 15.79 Crore (81.59%) households have tap water supply in their homes out of 19.35 Crore rural households.
* **Government Initiatives for JJM Implementation:**
* Joint discussions and finalization of saturation plans and annual action plans (AAP) of States/UTs.
* Regular review of implementation, workshops/conferences/webinars for capacity building, training, knowledge sharing.
* Field visits by multi-disciplinary teams to provide technical support.
* Operational Guideline for JJM implementation.
* Margdarshika for Gram Panchayats & VWSCs to provide safe drinking water.
* Guidelines on a special campaign to provide piped water supply in Anganwadi centers, Ashramshalas and schools.
* JJM-Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) and JJM-Dashboard for online monitoring.
* **Extension of Jal Jeevan Mission:**
* The Jal Jeevan Mission has been extended till December 2028.
* Enhanced total outlay through budget announcements 2025-26.
**Impact Analysis**
**State/UT Governments**
* **Impact:** Responsible for planning, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes.
* **Action Required:** Implement and manage the JJM to provide tap water connections to rural households. Participate in joint discussions, develop saturation plans and annual action plans (AAP). Follow guidelines for providing piped water supply in Anganwadi centers, Ashramshalas and schools.
**Rural Households**
* **Impact:** Benefit from assured potable water through tap connection.
* **Action Required:** None specified in the document.
**Gram Panchayats & VWSCs**
* **Impact:** Responsible for providing safe drinking water in rural households
* **Action Required:** Follow Margdarshika for Gram Panchayats & VWSCs to provide safe drinking water.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)-Har Ghar Jal: A scheme to enable every rural household to have assured potable water through tap connection.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The ministry responsible for the Jal Jeevan Mission.
States/UTs: Indian states and union territories, key implementing partners for the Jal Jeevan Mission.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO – 980
ANSWERED ON 05/02/2026
AVAILABILITY OF DRINKING WATER AND WATER RESOURCES
†980. SMT. GENIBEN NAGAJI THAKOR:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has assessed the current status of drinking water availability
and water resources in the country and if so, the outcome thereof;
(b) whether the Government is working towards the goal of providing tap water to every
rural household under the Jal Jeevan Mission; and
(c) if so, the details thereof along with the progress made so far in this regard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI V. SOMANNA)
(a) to (c) Since August 2019, Government of India, in partnership with States, is
implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)-Har Ghar Jal to enable every rural household (at 55
lpcd, BIS:10500 standard) in the country, to have assured potable water through tap
connection. Drinking water is a State subject, and hence, the responsibility of planning,
approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes,
including those under the Jal Jeevan Mission, lies with the respective State/UT
Governments. The Government of India supports the States by providing technical and
financial assistance.
As reported by State Governments, at the beginning of Jal Jeevan Mission in August
2019, around 3.24 Crore (16.8%) rural households were reported to have tap water
connection. So far, as reported by States/ UTs as on 02.02.2026, more than 12.55 Crore
additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus,
as on 02.02.2026, out of 19.35 Crore rural households in the country, more than 15.79 Crore
(81.59%) households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.
The Government has taken a number of steps to plan towards the goal of providing tap
water to every rural household under the Jal Jeevan Mission in the whole country with speed,
inter alia including joint discussions and finalization of saturation plans and annual action
plans (AAP) of States/ UTs, regular review of implementation, workshops/ conferences/
webinars for capacity building, training, knowledge sharing, field visits by multi-
disciplinary teams to provide technical support, etc. A detailed Operational Guideline for the
Page 1 of 2implementation of JJM; Margdarshika for Gram Panchayats & VWSCs to provide safe
drinking water in rural households and Guidelines on a special campaign to provide piped
water supply in Anganwadi centers, Ashramshalas and schools have been shared with States/
UTs to facilitate planning and implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission. For online monitoring,
JJM–Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) and JJM–Dashboard has been put
in place.
Considering the progress achieved so far and ongoing works, Hon’ble Finance Minister
has announced extension of Jal Jeevan Mission till December 2028 with enhanced total
outlay through budget announcements 2025-26.
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