Liquid Gold or Looming Crisis: Why Water Security is the Cornerstone of a 'Viksit Bharat'

The Main Explanatory

India's pursuit of 'Viksit Bharat'—a developed nation status by 2047—is inextricably linked to its ability to manage its water resources. The government has initiated large-scale programmes aimed at a comprehensive turnaround in the water sector. Understanding their scale, impact, and the underlying challenges is crucial.

What is the scale of India's water challenge?

India faces a fundamental structural imbalance in its water economy. The country is home to nearly 18% of the world's population but has access to only 4% of the planet's freshwater resources, according to the Ministry of Jal Shakti. This disparity is compounded by high dependence on monsoon rains, rapid urbanisation, and inefficient agricultural practices, which consume over 80% of the nation's water. The NITI Aayog's Composite Water Management Index (2018) highlighted that nearly 600 million Indians face high-to-extreme water stress. The pressures of climate change—manifesting as erratic monsoons and prolonged droughts—continue to intensify the challenge, making sustainable water management a critical national security and economic stability issue.

How has the government's approach shifted?

The government's stated strategy has shifted from isolated interventions to an integrated, ecosystem-based approach. The creation of the Ministry of Jal Shakti in 2019 was the first administrative step in this direction, unifying governance over drinking water, sanitation, and river conservation. This philosophy underpins its two flagship rural programmes: the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). According to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the JJM represents a paradigm shift from focusing on water sources to ensuring service delivery at the household level. When the mission launched in 2019, only 3.23 crore rural households (17%) had tap water connections. As of early 2024, government data indicates this number has surged to over 15.8 crore households, covering more than 81% of rural India, against a target of 100% coverage by the end of 2024. A study cited by the ministry suggests this expansion has saved over 5.5 crore person-hours daily, primarily for women.