The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is a flagship scheme launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, on August 15, 2019. The mission's core objective is to provide every rural household with a Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) by 2024. This was a necessary intervention because, at its inception, only 17% (3.23 crore) of rural households had tap water connections. The JJM is a restructuring of the earlier National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), which itself evolved from the Accelerated Rural Drinking Water Supply Scheme (ARWSP) launched in 1972.
The scheme works by ensuring the provision of 55 litres of potable water per person per day on a regular, long-term basis. Key provisions include mandatory source sustainability measures like rainwater harvesting and grey water management. Implementation is based on a community approach, empowering Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSC) to plan, manage, and maintain the in-village water supply systems. The mission is closely linked to the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign, which focuses on water conservation, and aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
The mission has recently undergone a significant change, being extended and restructured into Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 (JJM 2.0). Approved by the Union Cabinet, the extension runs up to December 2028 with an enhanced total outlay of ₹8.69 lakh crore. The focus has shifted from mere infrastructure creation to service delivery and structural reforms, including digital governance and a service utility framework, with the guidelines for JJM 2.0 released on March 22, 2026.