New Delhi: Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide tap water connection to all rural households, has been extended till 2028, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Saturday.
The Mission will be extended with an enhanced Budget outlay, said the Finance Minister while presenting the Union Budget 2025-26 in the Lok Sabha.
"To achieve 100 percent coverage, I am pleased to announce the extension of the Mission until 2028 with an enhanced total outlay," she said.
Highlighting the Mission's achievements, the finance Minister said "Since 2019, 15 crore households representing 80 per cent of India’s rural population have been provided access to potable tap water connections"
She informed, "The Mission’s focus will be on the quality of infrastructure and O&M (Operations and Maintenance) of rural piped water supply schemes through “Jan Bhagidhari”.
"Separate MoUs will be signed with states/UTs, to ensure sustainability and citizen-centric water service delivery," she said while presenting the Budget.
Initially, the Jal Jeevan Mission had a 2024 deadline for universal tap water coverage. The Mission aims toprovide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections to all households in rural India.
The programme will also implement source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, such as recharge and reuse through grey water management, water conservation and rain water harvesting.
