India’s Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) represents one of the most ambitious public infrastructure undertakings of the Modi era. Launched on August 15, 2019, this flagship scheme has transformed rural water access from a mere aspiration into a reality.

The mission’s targets were precise: provide functional household tap connections to every rural household by 2024, raising coverage from a baseline of just 17% (3.23 crore households) to universal access. By February 2025, JJM had achieved remarkable progress, connecting over 15.44 crore rural households, representing 79.74% coverage across India’s countryside.

This represents the addition of 12.20 crore new connections in under six years, a pace of infrastructure delivery that stands amongst the fastest globally.

Eleven states and Union Territories have achieved complete coverage, including Goa, Haryana, Telangana, Gujarat, Puducherry, and several northeastern states. The mission has simultaneously ensured water access to 89% of schools and 85% of Anganwadi centres.

The mission operates through multi-tier governance: National Jal Jeevan Mission, State Water and Sanitation Missions, District missions, and Gram Panchayat-level committees.

JJM’s implementation demonstrates sophisticated governance mechanisms that transcend traditional welfare delivery. The programme deploys multiple technological interventions, including IoT-based sensor systems for real-time........

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