NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has showcased India’s experience in water governance as a model for nations across the Global South. On October 6, he shared an article that examines reforms initiated in Gujarat and their subsequent adoption in national water programs. Modi emphasized that achieving water security involves more than just building infrastructure. He highlighted the importance of strategic planning, capable local systems, and community engagement as vital components of effective water management. The article positions India’s journey as a practical example for countries grappling with increasing water demand and resource pressures.
Tracing changes in water governance over approximately 25 years, the article begins with reforms implemented in Gujarat during Modi’s time as chief minister. It distills four key lessons for developing economies: strengthening governance, managing water resources and services collaboratively, fostering community ownership, and planning at a larger scale. The framework also centers on political leadership, public funding, partnerships, and citizen participation. These concepts are linked to India’s national initiatives addressing drinking water, sanitation, groundwater management, river conservation, and water-use efficiency.
The expansion of rural drinking water provides a tangible indicator of the scale achieved by these nationwide efforts. According to Jal Jeevan Mission data, approximately 15.91 crore rural households had tap-water connections as of August 10, 2026, compared to about 3.23 crore households at the program’s launch in 2019. The focus of the initiative is on delivering functional household tap connections to rural families. Its current phase emphasizes service quality, dependability, and sustainable maintenance, moving beyond infrastructure development as the sole measure of progress.
Jal Jeevan Mission Moves Focus Towards Service Quality
Union Cabinet approved Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 in March 2026, extending its scope through December 2028. The revised plan allocates a total of ₹8.69 lakh crore, with ₹3.59 lakh crore in central assistance. The government shifted its implementation approach to prioritize reliable, safe, and sufficient drinking water for rural households. States and union territories are required to develop integrated reform strategies covering implementation, financing, and oversight. This structure emphasizes the importance of maintaining and operating systems after their initial construction to ensure long-term sustainability.
A key component of the updated framework is Sujalam Bharat, a digital platform designed to map rural piped-water networks from source to household tap. Under this system, each village is assigned a unique service-area identity. It aims to enhance planning, monitor assets, and improve accountability across water schemes. Local community institutions continue to play vital roles in managing systems, overseeing service delivery, and supporting maintenance, aligning with the broader rural water initiative.
Community Engagement Remains Central to Water Governance
The article shared by Modi emphasizes that water resources and water services must be managed in an integrated manner. Infrastructure planning should consider the long-term sustainability of water sources feeding these systems. It also underscores the importance of local participation, including institutions capable of overseeing village-level water services. This approach is reflected in current national reforms, which link service delivery with governance, digital monitoring, and local management. These elements form the core of India’s current message on water governance for other developing nations.
India’s model combines rural expansion of tap water with groundwater management, sanitation, conservation, and river-cleaning efforts. The article presents this combination as a set of lessons rather than a single blueprint for other countries. Modi’s October 6 remarks reiterated that water security depends on institutions, communities, and infrastructure alike. India’s latest reforms continue to follow this principle by pairing substantial public investment with local management, digital oversight, and service standards.