Cabinet Approves Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 With Enhanced Outlay of ₹8.69 Lakh Crore Extended to 2028
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the extension and restructuring of the flagship Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) up to December 2028. Officially named 'JJM 2.0', the revamped programme features an enhanced total outlay of ₹8.69 lakh crore, with the Central Government's financial assistance elevated by ₹1.51 lakh crore to reach ₹3.59 lakh crore. The decision addresses implementation gaps and ensures 100 percent coverage across India's 19.36 crore rural households.
JJM 2.0 marks a strategic paradigm shift from an 'infrastructure-creation' approach to a utility-based 'service delivery' model. Under the updated guidelines, Gram Panchayats and Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) will be granted operational control of water schemes through a new 'Jal Arpan' handover initiative. Gram Panchayats can certify themselves as 'Har Ghar Jal' only after establishing verified local Operation and Maintenance (O&M) mechanisms and water quality testing protocols.
To ensure transparency, the Ministry of Jal Shakti is introducing the 'Sujalam Bharat' digital framework. Under this platform, every village will receive a unique Sujal Gaon/Service Area ID to map the complete water supply chain from raw source to individual household taps. As of mid-2026, tap water connections have expanded from 17 percent in 2019 to over 81.6 percent of rural households nationwide.
