NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized India’s experience in water management as a model for nations across the Global South. On October 6, he shared an article that examined reforms implemented in Gujarat and their subsequent adoption in national water initiatives. Modi underlined that ensuring water security goes beyond infrastructure, requiring effective planning, capable local systems, and active 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.
Tracing water governance reforms over approximately 25 years, the article begins with changes introduced in Gujarat during Modi’s time as chief minister. It distills four key lessons for developing economies, including the importance of strengthened governance, integrated management of water resources and services, community ownership, and planning at scale. The framework also emphasizes political leadership, public funding, partnerships, and public participation. These concepts are connected to India’s national programmes covering drinking water, sanitation, groundwater management, river conservation, and water-use efficiency.
India’s rural drinking-water expansion illustrates the scope of these national efforts. According to Jal Jeevan Mission data, approximately 15.91 crore rural households had tap-water connections as of August 10, 2026, compared with about 3.23 crore households at the start of the programme in 2019. The focus remains on providing functional household tap connections to rural families, with an increased emphasis on service quality, reliability, and long-term maintenance, rather than infrastructure development alone.
Jal Jeevan Mission evolves towards prioritizing service delivery
Union Cabinet approved Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 in March 2026, extending its timeline to December 2028. The updated initiative has a total approved expenditure of ₹8.69 lakh crore, including ₹3.59 lakh crore in central assistance. The government shifted its focus to ensuring reliable, sufficient, and safe drinking water for rural households. States and union territories are required to develop integrated reform plans covering implementation, financing, and monitoring. The new structure emphasizes the importance of operating systems post-construction and maintaining services over time.
A key element of the revised framework is Sujalam Bharat, a national digital platform designed to map rural piped-water networks from source to household tap. Each village is assigned a unique service-area identity under this system. The goal is to improve planning, track assets, and enhance accountability for drinking-water schemes. Community institutions continue to play an integral role, with village-level bodies and local governments involved in managing systems, overseeing service quality, and supporting maintenance within the broader rural water programme.
Community involvement remains at the heart of water governance
Modi’s shared article advocates for integrated management of water resources and water services, emphasizing that infrastructure planning must consider the long-term availability of water. It highlights the importance of local participation, including institutions capable of overseeing village-level water services. This approach is reflected in current national reforms that link service delivery with governance, digital monitoring, and local management. These elements form the core of India’s current water-governance strategy aimed at other developing nations.
India’s model does not rely on a single programme. Instead, it combines rural tap-water expansion 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 remarks on October 6 reiterated the principle that water security depends on strong institutions and community involvement alongside infrastructure. India’s latest reforms continue on this path by pairing substantial public investment with local management, digital oversight, and service standards.