What is Jal Jeevan Mission? Objectives, Implementation, and Progress (2019–2028)

The flagship rural drinking water program in India under the Ministry of Jal Shakti with the objective of achieving Har Ghar Jal is called Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), which was ordered to be initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2019, to provide every household in India with functional household tap connections (FHTC) delivering 55 liters per capita per day of safe drinking water. 

It enables states, Panchayats and communities to achieve sustainable water security, and its total expenditure is of Rs 3.60 lakh crore, which is to be prolonged up to the year 2028 due to tremendous progress.

Who Launched the Jal Jeevan Mission?

On Independence Day 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared JJM at the Red Fort, and it is possible to address the pre-launch gap in rural locations. 

It focused on addressing the problem of 17% of households having tap connections. The mission is aimed at having universal coverage of 19 crore rural households with emphasis on the vulnerable regions.

What are the Objectives of the JJM?

• The vision of JJM will be to provide sufficient and safe water to all rural households on a regular basis at reasonable prices to raise living standards. 
• Some of the important goals are FHTCs to households, schools, Anganwadis, and institutions; functionality monitoring; community ownership through contributions; source/infrastructure sustainability; capacity building; and awareness of the role of water.
• It enables state planning, infrastructural formation, utility development, and convergence towards long-term security.

What are the Key Components of this Mission?

JJM helps fund FHTCs in-villages piped, source augmentation, bulk transfer/treatment or distribution, contaminant removal technology, retrofitting, greywater, and support, such as IEC, training, lab, and research and development. 

Convergence with other programs funds rainwater, O&M; flexi funds disaster needs.

What is the Budget Allocation for this Mission?

The budget allocation between central and states is 50:50 (90:10 in the case of special categories): In 2025-26, it was 2025-26, with 67,000 crore central outlay (67,300 crore 2026-27) and 67,226 crore state outlay (67,300 crore special categories). 

States make contributions through its share, CSR and schemes.

Progress and Coverage of JJM 

As of early 2026, 15.79 crore (81 percent coverage) of FHTCs were provided (12.52 crore since its inception). 

Dashboard follows stages: IMIS-reported (verified connections), Reported (state-confirmed supply to households/institutions), Certified (Gram Sabha resolution). Leaders: Himachal Pradesh (100%), Goa (98%); laggards: Kerala (approximately 60%), Meghalaya (57%).

Recent Updates

The O&M extended to 2028 and centered on quality, O&M through Jan Bhagidari, and digitalization; the O&M budget increased in 2025-26 although revised cuts(Rs 16,944 crore). 

Central releases have been said to freeze early 2026, but allocations keep PM-JANMAN tribal push (Rs 341.70 crore). Dashboard underlines Gram Sabha certification to be really functional.

What are the Challenges Faced in this Mission?

These problems are source sustainability in water-strained locations, contaminants, terrain delays, state funding gap (Rs 1.25 lakh crore proposed), capacity crunches, expenditures, and clearances. Launching big-bang; data integrity doubted under disproportionate development.

JJM improves health, saves time on the part of women, improves productivity/ equity, and community institutions such as Pani Samitis. Complete coverage implies financial profit; consciousness leads to protectivity.

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