The Union Cabinet’s decision to extend the Jal Jeevan Mission until December 2028, with an enhanced outlay of ₹8.69 lakh crore under the restructured Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, marks the beginning of an important new chapter in India’s rural water journey. The first phase of the Mission demonstrated what strong political commitment, administrative coordination, and community participation can achieve at scale. The next phase presents an equally significant opportunity to ensure that these gains remain reliable, resilient, and sustainable over the long term.

The reforms introduced under JJM 2.0 such as Jal Arpan — involving gram panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) in the commissioning and formal handover of schemes — reinforce the principle that long-term success depends on strong local ownership.

Sustaining services requires strong local institutions. The Jal Jeevan Mission has rapidly evolved from an infrastructure project into a transformative public programme. Having expanded tap water access from a small minority to the vast majority of rural India, the........

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