NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spotlighted India’s experiences in water management as a benchmark for nations across the Global South. On October 6, he shared an article examining reforms implemented in Gujarat that have since influenced national water strategies. Modi emphasized that water security extends beyond infrastructure, underscoring the importance of planning, capable local systems, and community involvement in effective water governance. The article showcases India’s approach as a practical example for countries facing increasing demand and stress on water resources.
Tracing nearly 25 years of water-governance reforms, the article begins with initiatives in Gujarat during Modi’s tenure as chief minister. It distills four key lessons for developing economies, including strengthening governance, joint management of water resources and services, fostering community ownership, and planning for scalability. The framework integrates political leadership, public financing, partnerships, and public participation. These principles are linked to national programs covering drinking water, sanitation, groundwater management, river conservation, and water-use efficiency.
The expansion of rural drinking water services offers a tangible measure of the reach of India’s national programs. Data from Jal Jeevan Mission indicated that approximately 15.91 crore rural households had tap-water connections as of August 10, 2026, a significant increase from about 3.23 crore households when the initiative launched in 2019. The program emphasizes providing functional household tap connections, with a current focus on service quality, reliability, and sustainable maintenance rather than infrastructure development alone.
Jal Jeevan Mission Emphasizes Service Quality
Union Cabinet approved Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 in March 2026, extending its duration through December 2028. The revised plan allocates a total of ₹8.69 lakh crore, with ₹3.59 lakh crore in central assistance. The government has shifted its focus toward ensuring reliable, sufficient, and safe drinking water for rural households. States and union territories are tasked with developing integrated reforms that cover implementation, financing, and monitoring, with increased attention to operation and sustainability after infrastructure is built.
A key component of this framework is Sujalam Bharat, a nationwide digital platform designed to map rural piped-water networks from source to household tap. Each village receives a unique service-area identity, facilitating improved planning, asset management, and accountability across water schemes. Community institutions continue to play a vital role, with village bodies and local governments involved in system management, service monitoring, and maintenance within the broader rural water program.
Community Involvement Central to Water Management
According to the article shared by Modi, effective water resources and service management should be integrated. Infrastructure planning must consider long-term water availability feeding these systems. Local participation, including institutions overseeing village-level water services, is also emphasized. 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 message on water governance for other developing nations.
India’s model is not based solely on a single program. 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 one-size-fits-all blueprint for other countries. Modi’s October 6 comments reiterated that water security depends on institutions and communities alongside infrastructure. India’s latest reforms continue to reinforce this principle by pairing extensive public investment with local management, digital oversight, and service quality standards.