NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized India’s experience in water governance as a reference point for nations across the Global South. On October 6, he shared an article examining reforms in Gujarat that later influenced national water initiatives. Modi stated that water security goes beyond just infrastructure. He highlighted the importance of planning, capable local systems, and community involvement as vital components of water management. The article showcases India’s approach as a practical example for countries facing increasing demand and pressure on water resources.
The article traces changes in water governance over about 25 years, beginning with reforms in Gujarat during Modi’s time as chief minister. It outlines four key lessons for developing economies. These include enhancing governance, managing water resources jointly, fostering community ownership, and planning for scale. The framework also emphasizes political leadership, public financing, partnerships, and public participation. These ideas are linked to national programmes covering drinking water, sanitation, groundwater management, river conservation, and water-use efficiency.
India’s rural drinking-water expansion illustrates the scale of national programmes. Data from Jal Jeevan Mission showed that around 15.91 crore rural households had tap-water connections as of August 10, 2026. This compares to about 3.23 crore households when the programme started in 2019. The focus is on providing functional household tap connections. The current phase also emphasizes service quality, reliability, and long-term maintenance, rather than infrastructure development alone.
Jal Jeevan Mission shifts toward service delivery
Union Cabinet approved Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 in March 2026, extending it through December 2028. The updated plan has an approved budget of ₹8.69 lakh crore, including ₹3.59 lakh crore in central aid. The government has refocused efforts on reliable, adequate, and safe drinking water for rural households. States and union territories are required to prepare integrated reform plans that cover implementation, financing, and monitoring. The new structure emphasizes maintaining services after construction and ensuring long-term sustainability.
A key element of the revised framework is Sujalam Bharat, a national digital system for mapping rural piped-water networks from source to household tap. Each village receives a unique service-area identity under this system. It aims to improve planning, asset tracking, and accountability across water schemes. Community institutions continue to play a role in the operating structure. Village bodies and local governments are involved in managing systems, monitoring services, and supporting maintenance as part of the broader rural water programme.
Community involvement remains central to water governance
The article shared by Modi argues that water resources and services should be managed together. Infrastructure planning must consider the long-term availability of water. It also stresses local participation, including institutions that oversee village-level water services. The current national reforms reflect this approach, linking service delivery with governance, digital monitoring, and local management. These elements form the core message of India’s water governance strategy for other developing nations.
India’s model does not rely on a single programme. It combines rural tap-water expansion with groundwater management, sanitation, conservation, and river-cleaning efforts. The article describes this combination as a set of lessons rather than a one-size-fits-all blueprint. Modi’s October 6 remarks echoed the same idea: water security depends on institutions, communities, and infrastructure. India’s latest reforms continue in this direction by pairing large-scale public investment with local management, digital oversight, and service standards.