**Summary:**
As of August 7, 2025, the Ministry of Jal Shakti addressed concerns regarding villages lacking access to drinking water in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3094. The government is implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) Har Ghar Jal, a centrally sponsored scheme initiated in August 2019, in partnership with States and Union Territories. The mission aims to provide tap water supply to every rural household across the country.
At the program's launch, the government allocated a central outlay of ₹2,08,652 crore to support States and UTs, which has been almost entirely utilized. When JJM was announced, 3.23 crore rural households had tap water connections. As of August 4, 2025, approximately 12.45 crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections, bringing the total to 15.68 crore (80.99%) out of 19.36 crore rural households across 5.81 lakh villages. Approximately 2.63 lakh villages have achieved "Har Ghar Jal" status, meaning 100% of rural households have tap water supply.
The Finance Minister announced the extension of JJM until 2028 with an enhanced total outlay during the 2025-26 budget speech. While the central government provides technical and financial assistance, the responsibility for planning, approval, implementation, operation, and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes under JJM rests with the State and UT governments, as drinking water is a State subject. Data regarding villages supplied with drinking water via tankers is maintained at the State Government level. The Minister of State for Jal Shakti who provided the answer is Shri V. Somanna.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Jal Shakti: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for water resources and sanitation.
Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation: A department under the Ministry of Jal Shakti focused on providing safe drinking water and sanitation.
Shri Rajesh Naranbhai Chudasama: A Member of Parliament (MP) who raised a question in Lok Sabha regarding drinking water access in villages.
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): A centrally sponsored scheme by the Government of India to provide tap water supply to every rural household.
Har Ghar Jal: A component of the Jal Jeevan Mission, aiming to provide tap water connections to all rural households.
Shri V. Somanna: Minister of State for Jal Shakti who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
States and UTs: Refers to the States and Union Territories of India, which are partners in implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question regarding drinking water was raised.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3094
ANSWERED ON 07.08.2025
VILLAGES DEPRIVED OF DRINKING WATER
3094. SHRI RAJESH NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that many villages in the country are still deprived of drinking water and
are dependent on water tankers which transport water from far-off places;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has formulated any scheme and provided funds to provide drinking
water to every citizen in the country; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the time-frame by which this scheme is likely to be fully
implemented across the country?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI V. SOMANNA)
(a) to (d) Since August 2019, Government of India in partnership with States, is implementing
centrally sponsored scheme Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal to make provision of tap water
supply to every rural household in all villages across the country. At the time of the launch, the
Government also approved support for the States and UTs with a central outlay of ₹2,08,652 crore.
The approved Central outlay has almost been utilized.
At the time of announcement of Jal Jeevan Mission, 3.23 Crore (17%) rural households were
reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by States/ UTs as on 04.08.2025, around
12.45 Crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections. Thus, as on
04.08.2025, out of 19.36 Crore rural households, in around 5.86 lakh villages, in the country, around
15.68 Crore (80.99%) households spread across 5.81 lakh villages, are reported to have tap water
supply in their homes. Further, as on 04.08.2025, around 2.63 lakh villages are reported as ‘Har
Ghar Jal’ i.e. 100% rural households are having tap water supply.
Hon'ble Finance Minister during her budget speech 2025-26 has announced extension of Jal Jeevan
Mission until 2028 with enhanced total outlay.
Drinking water being a State subject, under JJM, responsibilities for planning, approval,
implementation, operation and maintenance of drinking water supply schemes lie with State/ UT
governments. Government of India supplements the efforts of the State/ UT government by
providing technical and financial assistance. The details of villages being provided drinking water
through water tankers are maintained at State Government level.
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