Liquid Gold or Looming Crisis: Why Water Security is the Cornerstone of a 'Viksit Bharat'
An in-depth analysis of India's integrated water management strategy, its flagship missions, and the persistent challenges on the path to ensuring water for all.
The Pre-requisite
To understand the complexities of India's water security challenge, a grasp of the key terms, constitutional framework, and institutional architecture is essential. This section provides the foundational knowledge needed to navigate the policy landscape.
(1) KEY TERMS
- Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) — A central government initiative launched in 2019 with an outlay of ₹3.6 lakh crore to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections to all households in rural India by 2024.
- Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) — Launched in 2014, this is a country-wide campaign to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management. Its rural component is known as SBM-Grameen.
- Groundwater Recharge — The process by which water moves downward from surface water to groundwater, replenishing aquifers, either naturally through precipitation or artificially through man-made structures.
- Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) — A measure of the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic biological organisms to break down organic material in a water sample; it is a key indicator of water pollution.
(2) CONSTITUTIONAL & HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Under the Constitution of India, 'Water' is a State subject under Entry 17 of the State List (List II) in the Seventh Schedule, granting states primary legislative power via Article 246(3). However, the Union government can legislate on the regulation of inter-state rivers under Entry 56 of the Union List. Article 262 provides for the adjudication of inter-state water disputes. Historically, this led to a fragmented, state-led model with varied progress.
- Pre-2014: Water policy was divided across separate ministries. Major projects like the Ganga Action Plan (launched in 1986) saw limited success due to implementation gaps.
- October 2, 2014: The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was launched, marking a significant push towards universal sanitation.
- 2015: The Namami Gange Programme was launched as an integrated conservation mission with a budget of ₹20,000 crore for 2015-2020 to rejuvenate the Ganga river.
- May 2019: The Government of India formed the Ministry of Jal Shakti by merging the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation with the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, signalling a move towards integrated water governance.
- August 15, 2019: The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) was announced, shifting focus from public standposts to functional household tap connections (FHTCs) in rural areas.
- December 2021: The Union Cabinet approved the Ken-Betwa Link Project, the first major project under the National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers.
(3) INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
- Ministry of Jal Shakti: The nodal Union ministry, formed in 2019, responsible for overseeing all major national water-related policies and missions, including JJM and Namami Gange.
- Central Ground Water Board (CGWB): A national apex agency under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, established in 1970. It provides scientific inputs for the management, exploration, monitoring, and regulation of the country's groundwater resources.
- National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG): The implementation wing of the National Ganga Council. Registered as a society in 2011, it executes projects under the Namami Gange programme.
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.
What are the key initiatives and their reported impact?
The government's strategy extends beyond household connections to encompass sanitation, conservation, and large-scale infrastructure. The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) is presented as a success in behavioural change; a World Health Organisation (WHO) assessment cited by the government estimated that SBM-Grameen averted over 300,000 deaths from diarrhoeal diseases between 2014 and October 2019. The programme's second phase now focuses on sustaining Open Defecation Free (ODF) status and managing solid and liquid waste. For conservation, the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, launched in 2019, has reportedly led to the creation of over 1.55 crore rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge structures by early 2024. This community-driven model is credited by the Central Ground Water Board with improving groundwater levels. In river rejuvenation, the Namami Gange programme is highlighted as a key effort. Ministry data shows it has helped create 4,260 Million Litres per Day (MLD) of sewage treatment capacity, contributing to a reduction in the Ganga's Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) from 26 tonnes per day (TPD) in 2017 to 10.75 TPD in 2024. On the infrastructure front, the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project, with a sanctioned cost of ₹44,605 crore, is being implemented to transfer water to the arid Bundelkhand region.
What are the persistent challenges and concerns?
Despite reported progress, environmental experts and policy analysts point to critical areas requiring sustained focus. A primary concern is the long-term sustainability of the infrastructure. For the Jal Jeevan Mission, ensuring a reliable and perennial water source for new tap connections is a significant challenge, especially in water-stressed regions. Analysts argue the focus must shift from asset creation to the operational maintenance and financial viability of these systems. Similarly, while SBM achieved high toilet construction rates, past reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) have raised questions about the functionality of toilets and the verification of ODF declarations. The ecological impact of large-scale projects like the Ken-Betwa link remains a subject of intense debate, with environmental groups raising concerns about its effect on the Panna Tiger Reserve. Furthermore, systemic reform in water-use efficiency, especially in agriculture, remains a major gap. The sector's reliance on flood irrigation and power subsidies that encourage groundwater over-extraction could undermine gains made elsewhere.
The Conclusion
Water security is no longer a sectoral issue but a foundational pillar for India's economic, social, and environmental future. Its importance has been magnified by the twin pressures of rapid development and increasing climate volatility, making the current policy focus both timely and critical.
(1) Why this matters for 'Viksit Bharat'
As India charts its course towards becoming a developed nation by 2047, ensuring access to clean water and sanitation is a non-negotiable prerequisite. It directly impacts public health, human dignity, and national resilience against climate shocks. The government's integrated approach, viewing water as a unified resource, reflects a recognition that economic growth cannot be sustained on a failing environmental foundation. Success in this sector is directly tied to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and will determine the quality of life for millions.
(2) The likely trajectory
In the next few years, the policy trajectory will likely focus on two fronts. The first is completing last-mile connectivity for flagship missions, particularly achieving the 2024 target for 100% rural tap water coverage under JJM. The implementation of SBM-Grameen 2.0 will also intensify, shifting from toilet construction to the more complex challenge of faecal sludge and greywater management. The second, more critical, focus will be on sustainability. This will involve a greater push for demand-side management, improving water-use efficiency in agriculture through micro-irrigation, and promoting water recycling and reuse in urban areas, moving beyond a purely supply-centric model.
(3) Governance implications
The current water strategy represents a significant recentralisation of policy direction through large-scale, centrally sponsored schemes. While this has accelerated implementation, the long-term challenge lies in strengthening the capacity of local governance institutions—Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies—to manage these assets effectively. The principle of cooperative federalism will be tested as states navigate inter-state river disputes, governed by Article 262 of the Constitution, and align their regional policies with the national vision. Ultimately, India's journey to water security is not merely about building infrastructure; it is about reshaping the relationship between its citizens, its economy, and its most vital natural resource.