**Executive Summary**
On March 20, 2026, the Ministry of Jal Shakti signed reform-linked MoUs with Gujarat, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Goa under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0. This initiative aims to advance sustainable rural water delivery through community-driven governance, following the program's extension until December 2028. Key action items include implementing structural reforms, ensuring last-mile connectivity, and adhering to strict quality standards to achieve the "Har Ghar Jal" objective.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Program Restructuring and Objectives**
* JJM 2.0 reorients the program toward assured service delivery, focusing on functionality, water quality, and source sustainability.
* The mission mandates a Gram Panchayat-led and community-centered model of rural water governance (*Jan Bhagidari*).
* The initiative seeks to improve living standards and health outcomes by providing regular access to safe drinking water in every rural household.
* **Governance and Accountability**
* The Union Government maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, emphasizing transparency in all works.
* State governments must strictly adhere to quality standards to ensure infrastructure remains functional over the long term.
* Mechanisms must be established to address public grievances promptly and ensure continuous water supply.
* **State-Specific Implementation Focus**
* **Gujarat:** Focus on consistent execution, structural reforms, and institutional strengthening.
* **Haryana:** Prioritizing administrative coordination, technology-driven transparency, and last-mile connectivity.
* **Chhattisgarh:** Accelerating coverage in lagging districts (e.g., Jashpur, Sukma, Bijapur) and emphasizing source augmentation/recharge.
* **Himachal Pradesh:** Implementing context-specific designs for hilly terrains and freezing conditions while empowering local bodies to manage operation and maintenance (O&M).
* **Goa:** Ensuring reliability and water quality in saline coastal conditions through localized service delivery and financial sustainability.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
**Impact**
States are now bound by reform-linked MoUs that require a shift from infrastructure creation to sustainable service delivery and institutional reform.
**Action Required**
States must execute projects with strict adherence to quality standards, implement technology for transparency, and ensure all rural households receive functional tap connections by the 2028 deadline.
**Gram Panchayats / Local Bodies**
**Impact**
Local bodies are empowered as the primary owners and managers of rural water systems, moving toward financial self-reliance.
**Action Required**
Panchayats must take responsibility for managing O&M expenditures, levying user charges where applicable, and promoting community ownership of water assets.
**Rural Households**
**Impact**
Residents, particularly women, will benefit from improved health, dignity, and the elimination of the labor required to fetch water.
**Action Required**
Communities must engage in the *Jan Bhagidari* (community participation) model to support the operation, maintenance, and long-term sustainability of their local water systems.
Key Entities Referenced
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0: A national initiative extended to December 2028 focused on sustainable rural drinking water delivery through community participation and structural governance reforms.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The central government ministry responsible for overseeing the Jal Jeevan Mission and facilitating partnership agreements with Indian states.
Reform-linked Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs): Agreements signed between the Centre and specific states mandating a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based model for rural water governance.
Gujarat, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Goa: The group of Indian states that signed the MoUs to advance reforms for accountable and community-driven water delivery.
Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS): The nodal department under the Ministry of Jal Shakti responsible for the execution, technical oversight, and signing of mission-related agreements.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Reform Linked MoUs signed with Gujarat,
Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and
Goa under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0
Centre-States partnership advances reforms for sustainable
rural water delivery for an accountable and community-driven
water governance
Posted On: 20 MAR 2026 8:47PM by PIB Delhi
As a significant step towards strengthening rural drinking water service delivery, reform-linked
Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 were signed today with the
States of Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Goa following the approval of JJM 2.0 by
the Union Cabinet on 10 March 2026.
The MoUs were signed during separate scheduled meetings held via video conference, in the presence of
the Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C.R. Patil, who joined each meeting virtually.
The MoU with Gujarat was signed in the presence of the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendrabhai
Patel, and Shri Ishwarsinh Patel, Minister of State, Water Supply and Water Resources, Gujarat; who
joined the event virtually along with senior officials from the Government of Gujarat.For Gujarat, the MoU was signed between Smt. Swati Meena Naik, Joint Secretary (Water), DDWS, and
Ms. Shahmeena Husain, Principal Secretary, Water Supply Department, Gujarat.
Dr. Vikrant Pandey, Additional Principal Secretary, CMO Gujarat &Resident Commissioner to Govt. of
Gujarat exchanged the MoU.
Marking a key step in Centre-State collaboration, the MoU with the State of Haryana was formally
signed at 11 a.m. in the virtual presence of Chief Minister Shri Nayab Singh Saini, Shri Ranbir Gangwa,
PHED Minister and other senior officials from the State.
The MoU was signed and exchanged between Smt. Swati Meena Naik, Joint Secretary (Water), DDWS,
and Shri Mohammed Shayin, Commissioner & Secretary to Government of Haryana, PHED.For the States of Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh, the MoU signing took place at 11:35 a.m. and 12:15
p.m., respectively.The MoU with Chhattisgarh was signed between Smt. Swati Meena Naik, Joint
Secretary (Water), and Shri Rajesh Sukumar Toppo, Secretary, PHED, Government of Chhattisgarh, and
was exchanged by Smt. Shruti Singh, Resident Commissioner, in the virtual presence of the Chief
Minister of Chhattisgarh, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Arun Sao and other senior
officials from the State.
The MoU with the State of Himachal Pradesh was signed and exchanged between Smt. Swati Meena
Naik, Joint Secretary (Water), DDWS, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and Dr. Abhishek Jain, Secretary (JSV),
Government of Himachal Pradesh, in the virtual presence of Chief Minister Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu,
Deputy Chief Minister Shri Mukesh Agnihotri, Er. Anju Sharma, Engineer-in-Chief, Jal Shakti Vibhag,
and other senior officials.Senior officials from the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), including Shri Ashok K.
K. Meena, Secretary, DDWS, Shri Kamal Kishore Soan, Additional Secretary & Mission Director,
National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM), along with officers from DDWS were present during the MoU
signing.
The MoU with the State of Goa was signed and exchanged between Smt. Swati Meena Naik, Joint
Secretary (Water), DDWS, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and Shri Sarpreet Singh Gill, Commissioner Cum
Secretary (Water Resources), Govt. of Goa, in the virtual presence of Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod
Sawant and Shri. Subhash Phal Dessai, Minister of Social Welfare, Drinking Water, Empowerment of
Persons with Disabilities, River Navigation, Government of Goa.
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Patil, said that under the visionary
leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the goal of “Har Ghar Jal” is today becoming a
powerful instrument of transformation in the lives of people across rural India. With the objective of “Har
Ghar Jal, Har Gram Sujal”, Jal Jeevan Mission has emerged as a people-centric movement aimed at
enhancing dignity, health and empowerment in rural areas. The provision of tap water supply has not only
made daily life more convenient but has also freed women from the drudgery of fetching water, enabling
them to access time and opportunities for self-development. Access to clean and safe drinking water
strengthens health outcomes, improving sanitation and reinforcing social dignity across communities.
Referring to recent Parliamentary deliberations, reiterated that the Union Government follows a zero-
tolerance policy towards corruption and emphasized that quality, transparency and accountability must
guide all works undertaken under Jal Jeevan Mission and urged both States to ensure strict adherence to
quality standards so that assets created remain functional and sustainable over the long term.
While addressing state-specific contexts, Shri Patil acknowledged Gujarat's consistent execution and
leadership, Haryana's exemplary administrative coordination and technology-driven transparency,
Himachal Pradesh’s drinking water services in challenging hilly terrain and freezing climatic conditions,
and Chhattisgarh's focus on accelerating coverage in lagging districts such as Jashpur, Sukma and Bijapur,
while strengthening recharge systems and multi-village schemes.
He also appreciated Goa for effectively implementing the programme and ensuring safe drinking water
access across the State through the Jal Jeevan Mission. The leadership of the Chief Minister and the efforts
of state officials were acknowledged. In a coastal State like Goa, surrounded by ocean waters, theprovision of clean drinking water despite saline conditions demonstrates a strong commitment to reliable
service delivery.
Shri Patil further stated that Jal Jeevan Mission is not merely a scheme, but a life-impacting mission that is
bringing about fundamental improvements in health, dignity and quality of life, particularly for women
and rural communities. Thus, regular and continuous drinking water supply must be ensured in every
village, and public grievances should be addressed promptly.
Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel stated that the Government of Gujarat has always
worked in cooperation with the Central government. He committed that the state government will abide by
all the points of MoU and assured that Gujarat would uphold the confidence placed in it through timely
execution and strict adherence to the structural reforms envisaged under JJM 2.0, with a focus on quality
works, institutional strengthening and long-term sustainability of rural drinking water systems.
Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Nayab Singh Saini, highlighted that Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 marks an
important step in strengthening the partnership between the Central and State Government. He stated that
under the leadership of the Prime Minister, water security has been accorded the highest priority,
recognising water as essential for life, health and dignity and assured that the state will ensure last mile
connectivity with functionality.
Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, highlighted that Chhattisgarh is a tribal-dominated
State with geographically remote and challenging rural habitations, and reaffirmed the state’s strong
commitment to provide every rural household with safe and adequate drinking water. He stated that the
signing of the MoU will further strengthen long-term sustainability of drinking water supply systems, with
special emphasis on source augmentation and recharge. Emphasising on last-mile connectivity in tribal
and left-behind regions, he assured that the state is working with focused efforts to ensure inclusive
coverage under Jal Jeevan Mission, while expressing gratitude for the continued guidance, support and
partnership of the Central Government.
Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, expressed his sincere appreciation to
Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Patil, for the continued support extended to the State in advancing
drinking water infrastructure. Highlighting Himachal Pradesh’s unique geographical and climatic
conditions he emphasised the need for context-specific design and implementation of water supply
systems, noting that costs and technical complexities vary significantly across regions such as the Shivalik
Hills, the mid-Himalayan belt and the higher Himalayan areas, particularly in freezing conditions. On the
institutional front, he underscored that the State has already enabled the involvement of Panchayats across
most regions and is consistently working towards empowering gram panchayats to levy user charges and
locally manage operation and maintenance (O&M) expenditures. He noted that these efforts are
strengthening community ownership, financial self-reliance and the long-term functionality of rural
drinking water systems in the State.
The Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, emphasised the importance of service delivery beyond
infrastructure creation. He highlighted the need to ensure reliability, water quality and long-term
functionality of systems. He further stated that the signing of the MoU will strengthen last mile
connectivity, institutional accountability and convergence at the local level. Underscoring the role of
Panchayats, he highlighted ongoing efforts to empower local bodies in managing operation and
maintenance, promoting community ownership and ensuring financial sustainability of rural water supply
systems.
The reform-linked MoU mandates a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based and community-centered model
of rural water governance, aligned with the objectives of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.The extension of Jal Jeevan Mission up to December 2028, with enhanced financial outlay, seeks to
restructure and reorient the programme towards assured service delivery, with a focused emphasis on
functionality, water quality, source sustainability and community ownership, thereby establishing JJM 2.0
as a robust and sustainable national model for rural drinking water services.
The reform-linked MoU seeks to ensure that every rural household has access to drinking water supply in
adequate quantity and of prescribed quality on a regular basis, through strengthened community
participation (Jan Bhagidari) and bringing in structural reforms for sustainable operation and maintenance
of rural water supply systems, thereby enhancing the living standards of rural communities contributing to
long-term water security aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
ND
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