Jal Jeevan Mission: Progress and Challenges in Providing Clean Water
Jal Jeevan Mission aims for universal tap water access, faces implementation hurdles.
Photo by Nubelson Fernandes
The Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections (FHTCs) by 2024 to all rural households. The mission focuses on ensuring long-term water security and improving the quality of life in rural areas.
While significant progress has been made, challenges remain in ensuring sustainable water sources, effective implementation, and community participation. The mission also emphasizes water conservation and efficient water management practices to address water scarcity issues.
UPSC Exam Angles
GS Paper II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors
GS Paper III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Potential question types: Statement-based, analytical, scheme-based
Visual Insights
Jal Jeevan Mission: Key Performance Indicators (January 2026)
Key statistics highlighting the progress and impact of the Jal Jeevan Mission as of January 2026.
- Rural Households with FHTCs
- 78%+55%
- States/UTs with 100% FHTC Coverage
- 8
- Average Water Supply per Capita
- 55 litres/day
- Villages with Water Quality Monitoring
- 65%+40%
Significant increase in FHTCs since the mission's launch, improving access to clean water.
Indicates success in achieving universal access to tap water in these regions.
Ensuring adequate water supply for daily needs in rural households.
Increased focus on ensuring the quality of water supplied through FHTCs.
More Information
Background
The pursuit of providing safe drinking water to all citizens in India has a long history, predating the Jal Jeevan Mission. Early efforts were fragmented and primarily focused on urban areas. The National Water Supply and Sanitation Programme, launched in 1954, marked the first significant nationwide initiative, aiming to provide access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities in rural areas.
Subsequent programs like the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) in 1972 sought to address the specific challenges of rural water scarcity. The Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission, launched in 1986, emphasized community participation and sustainability. Despite these efforts, challenges persisted due to factors such as inadequate infrastructure, lack of community ownership, and unsustainable water sources.
The Jal Jeevan Mission builds upon these past experiences, incorporating lessons learned and aiming for a more comprehensive and sustainable approach.
Latest Developments
Beyond the immediate goal of providing FHTCs, recent developments focus on long-term water security and sustainability. This includes initiatives for groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting, and efficient irrigation practices. The mission is increasingly integrating with other government programs like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for water conservation works.
There's also a growing emphasis on leveraging technology for monitoring and evaluation, using real-time data to track progress and identify challenges. Future outlook involves strengthening community participation through Pani Samitis and ensuring the long-term functionality of water supply systems. The focus is shifting towards source sustainability and water quality monitoring to ensure the continued provision of safe and adequate drinking water.
Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding the Jal Jeevan Mission: 1. It aims to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to all rural households by 2024. 2. The mission focuses solely on providing piped water supply and does not address water conservation. 3. The Jal Jeevan Mission is a sub-component of the Swachh Bharat Mission. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: A
Statement 1 is correct as the mission aims to provide FHTCs by 2024. Statement 2 is incorrect as the mission also emphasizes water conservation. Statement 3 is incorrect as Jal Jeevan Mission is a separate mission, not a sub-component of Swachh Bharat Mission.
2. In the context of the Jal Jeevan Mission, what is the primary role of 'Pani Samitis'?
- A.To oversee the financial allocation for the mission at the national level.
- B.To conduct water quality testing in urban areas.
- C.To plan, implement, and manage village-level water supply schemes.
- D.To provide technical expertise for large-scale irrigation projects.
Show Answer
Answer: C
Pani Samitis are village-level committees responsible for planning, implementing, and managing water supply schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission, ensuring community participation and ownership.
3. Which of the following is NOT a challenge in the effective implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission?
- A.Ensuring sustainable water sources in water-stressed regions.
- B.Maintaining water quality standards and regular monitoring.
- C.Lack of community participation and awareness.
- D.Availability of adequate funding from the central government.
Show Answer
Answer: D
While funding can be a constraint, the central government has allocated significant funds to the Jal Jeevan Mission. The other options represent key challenges in implementation.
4. Assertion (A): The Jal Jeevan Mission aims to improve the quality of life in rural areas by providing safe and adequate drinking water. Reason (R): Access to clean water reduces waterborne diseases and improves overall health and hygiene. In the context of the above statements, which of the following is correct?
- A.Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
- B.Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
- C.A is true but R is false.
- D.A is false but R is true.
Show Answer
Answer: A
Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why the Jal Jeevan Mission aims to improve the quality of life in rural areas.