NEW DELHI, INDIA / RankWire.AI / – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized India’s experience in water governance as a model for nations across the Global South. On October 6, he shared an article that analyzed reforms implemented in Gujarat, which later influenced nationwide water initiatives. Modi highlighted that water security involves more than just physical infrastructure; planning, capable local systems, and community engagement are crucial components of effective water management. The article showcases India’s experience as a practical example for countries facing increasing demand and pressure on water resources.
Tracing approximately 25 years of water governance evolution, the article begins with reforms in Gujarat during Modi’s time as chief minister. It extracts four key lessons for developing economies. These include strengthening governance, collaborative management of water resources and services, community ownership, and planning at scale. The approach also employs a framework centered on political leadership, public funding, partnerships, and public participation. These ideas are linked to national programs addressing drinking water, sanitation, groundwater management, river conservation, and water-use efficiency.
India’s rural drinking water expansion illustrates the scale achieved by 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 to about 3.23 crore households when the program started in 2019. The initiative aims to supply functional household tap connections to rural families, with current phases emphasizing service quality, reliability, and long-term maintenance over infrastructure development alone.
Jal Jeevan Mission moves focus toward service quality
Union Cabinet approved Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 in March 2026, extending the program through December 2028. The updated plan allocates a total of ₹8.69 lakh crore, including ₹3.59 lakh crore in central assistance. The government has shifted implementation toward ensuring reliable, adequate, and safe drinking water for rural households. States and union territories are required to prepare integrated reform plans that include implementation, financing, and monitoring. The new structure emphasizes operating systems after construction and maintaining services over time.
A key component of this framework is Sujalam Bharat, a national digital platform for mapping rural piped-water networks from source to household tap. Each village receives a unique service-area identity under this system. Its purpose is to improve planning, asset management, and accountability across water schemes. Community institutions also continue to play a vital role, with village bodies and local governments managing systems, monitoring services, and supporting maintenance within the broader rural water program.
Community-led management remains vital for water governance
The article shared by Modi advocates for integrated management of water resources and services. Infrastructure planning should consider the long-term availability of water, and local participation—such as institutions overseeing village-level water services—is essential. This approach aligns with current national reforms that link service delivery with governance, digital monitoring, and local management. These elements are central to India’s current water-governance strategy aimed at other developing nations.
India’s model does not rely on a single program. Instead, it combines rural tap-water expansion with groundwater management, sanitation, conservation, and river-cleaning efforts. The article presents this integrated approach as a set of lessons rather than a universal blueprint for other countries. Modi’s October 6 comments echo the same core message: water security depends on institutions and communities as much as on infrastructure. India’s latest reforms continue in this direction by pairing substantial public investment with local management, digital oversight, and service standards.