The Indian government is set to reduce the funding for its key rural tap water program, the Jal Jeevan Mission, by almost 60% in the revised estimates for the 2025-26 financial year. This decision comes as the Ministry of Jal Shakti waits for Cabinet approval to extend the scheme until 2028, and amid reports of slow spending and past irregularities in how the program was carried out. The news highlights challenges in executing large-scale public schemes and raises questions about achieving full rural water coverage.
What is the Jal Jeevan Mission and Its Main Goals?
Launch and Objective: The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is a government program started in August 2019 to give safe drinking water through tap connections to every rural household in India by 2024.
Key Features: It aims to provide 55 liters of water per person per day (lpcd) using Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC), focusing on sustainable sources like groundwater or surface water.
Funding Structure: The total cost was estimated at Rs 3.6 lakh crore, shared between the Centre (50-90% depending on the state) and states, with extra funds for difficult areas like hilly regions.
Progress So Far: By 2026, it has connected 15 crore households (80% coverage), but some states like West Bengal and Rajasthan still lag behind with less than 70% coverage.
Why is the Budget Being Cut by 60% in the 2025-26 Revised Estimates?
Reason for Reduction: Without Cabinet approval for extending the scheme to 2028, the government believes the full Rs 67,000 crore cannot be used in the last few months of the fiscal year ending March 2026.
Pattern of Cuts: Similar reductions happened in 2024-25, where the budget dropped from Rs 70,163 crore to Rs 22,694 crore due to slow spending and implementation delays.
Role of Ministries: The Finance Ministry decides on revised estimates based on actual spending trends, while the Jal Shakti Ministry handles the program's day-to-day operations.
Link to Extension Delay: The extension was announced in the 2025-26 Budget, but formal approval is pending, affecting fund releases.
What Are the Irregularities and Corruption Issues in the Jal Jeevan Mission?
Changes in Guidelines: In 2022, rules were altered to remove limits on spending, leading to higher costs by Rs 16,839 crore (15% more than planned) as contractors charged extra without checks.
Government Response: In May 2025, over 100 officials inspected sites; by November, actions included suspensions and fines against 596 officials, 822 contractors, and 152 inspection agencies in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
PM's Directive: Prime Minister Modi ordered the Jal Shakti Ministry to act firmly, halting new funds until states fix corruption, as per reports from November 2025.
Impact on Funds: Due to these problems, the Centre paused releases, contributing to the budget cut and slowing progress in some areas.
What Are the Implications of This Budget Cut for Rural Water Supply?
Delay in Coverage: The cut could slow down reaching the remaining 20% of rural households (about 4 crore), especially in lagging states, affecting access to clean water.
Economic Effects: Reduced spending means less job creation in rural areas through pipe-laying and infrastructure work, impacting local economies.
Health and Social Benefits at Risk: Poor water access leads to diseases; the scheme has already reduced waterborne illnesses, but cuts might reverse gains for women and children who fetch water.
State Burden: States may need to spend more from their budgets, straining finances, especially in water-scarce regions like Rajasthan.
How Does the Jal Jeevan Mission Fit into India's Broader Water Policies?
Connection to National Goals: It supports Sustainable Development Goal 6 (clean water for all) and the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative by promoting local water management.
Related Programs: Links with Swachh Bharat for sanitation; the government also runs the National Aquifer Mapping Program to map groundwater sources.
Challenges in Water Sector: India faces water scarcity, with 600 million people at risk; the mission addresses this by focusing on source sustainability and community involvement.
Future Plans: Post-extension, focus will shift to maintenance of connections and quality testing, with Rs 2.79 lakh crore demanded earlier for 2024-28.
What Are the Reasons for Slow Spending and State-Level Delays?
Implementation Hurdles: Some states report delays due to land issues, contractor shortages, and harsh weather, leading to low utilization rates (below 50% in some cases).
Corruption Halts: Funds paused in states with irregularities, like Maharashtra not receiving since October 2024, complicating budget planning.
Monitoring Mechanisms: The JJM dashboard tracks progress, but ground realities show inflated reports, prompting third-party audits.
Suggestions for Improvement: Experts recommend better training for local committees and stricter quality checks to speed up genuine spending.
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