The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, launched on 15 August 2019, to give every rural household a Functional Household Tap Connection supplying 55 litres of water per person per day. On its seventh anniversary in August 2026, more than 15.91 crore rural households had tap water and over 2 lakh villages had been certified Har Ghar Jal by their gram sabhas.
Context
- On 15 August 2026 the mission completed seven years; rural tap-water coverage rose to over 15.91 crore households and more than 2 lakh villages were declared Har Ghar Jal certified.
- When the mission began in August 2019 only about 3.23 crore (17%) of rural households had a tap connection.
What the Mission Is
- Launched by: the Prime Minister on 15 August 2019, merging the earlier National Rural Drinking Water Programme.
- Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti; implementing department: Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS).
- Objective: a Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) for every rural household, with 55 litres per person per day of water of prescribed quality, on a regular and long-term basis.
- Deadline: originally 2024; extended to December 2028 by the Union Cabinet, with the focus shifting to source sustainability, quality and the remaining households in difficult terrain.
- Outlay: about Rs 3.6 lakh crore (Central share about Rs 2.08 lakh crore) for the original period, enhanced with the extension.
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Funding Pattern
- Himalayan and North-Eastern states: 90:10 between the Centre and the state.
- Union Territories: 100% by the Centre.
- Other states: 50:50.
How It Works
- Village Action Plans prepared by Village Water and Sanitation Committees (Pani Samitis), with at least 50% women members, cover source strengthening, supply, greywater management and operation and maintenance.
- Water quality: every district has testing laboratories, and five women in each village are trained to use field test kits; quality data go on the JJM dashboard.
- Har Ghar Jal certification: a village is certified only after the gram sabha passes a resolution confirming that every household has a functional tap with adequate quantity and prescribed quality – a community declaration, not an administrative count.
- Convergence with MGNREGS, the 15th Finance Commission tied grants to panchayats and the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).
- Several states and Union Territories – Goa, Telangana, Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram and others – reported 100% coverage.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to the Jal Jeevan Mission, consider the following statements:
(a) It was launched on 15 August 2019 to provide a Functional Household Tap Connection to every rural household. (b) It aims to supply 55 litres of water per person per day. (c) It is implemented by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. (d) It is a Central Sector Scheme funded entirely by the Union Government. How many of the above statements are correct? Only one / Only two / Only three / All four / None.
Q2. With reference to the funding pattern of the Jal Jeevan Mission, consider the following statements:
(a) The Centre-State funding ratio for Himalayan and North-Eastern states is 90:10. (b) Union Territories are funded entirely by the Central Government. (c) For other states, the funding ratio is 50:50. (d) The mission’s deadline was extended from 2024 to December 2028. How many of the above statements are correct? Only one / Only two / Only three / All four / None.
Answer Key
- Q1: Only three – statements (a), (b) and (c) are correct. Statement (d) is wrong: JJM is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with costs shared between the Centre and the states, not a Central Sector Scheme.
- Q2: All four are correct. Remember the three ratios: 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern states, 100% for Union Territories, 50:50 for the others.
Important Facts for Examsmost asked
- JJM launched 15 August 2019; Ministry of Jal Shakti; DDWS; Centrally Sponsored Scheme; norm 55 litres per person per day.
- Coverage: from 3.23 crore households (17%) in 2019 to over 15.91 crore by August 2026; 2 lakh-plus Har Ghar Jal villages.
- Deadline extended to December 2028.
- Funding: 90:10 (Himalayan and NE), 100% (UTs), 50:50 (others).
- Pani Samitis with 50% women; five women per village trained in water testing.
FAQs
What is the urban counterpart of JJM?
Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban), launched in 2021 under AMRUT 2.0 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, for tap connections in all statutory towns.
What does FHTC mean?
A Functional Household Tap Connection – a tap inside or near the house that delivers the norm quantity of safe water regularly, not just a pipe laid to the doorstep.
Why is JJM asked in NABARD and RBI exams?
It is the largest rural infrastructure mission of the decade; the launch date, norm, funding ratios, coverage numbers and the 2028 deadline are asked every year.
