YEAR END REVIEW; DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION
1. At a Glance
- Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS) under Ministry of Jal Shakti runs India's two flagship rural water-sanitation schemes: Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission–Grameen (SBM-G) Phase II [S1][S2].
- Vision: "Swachh Sujal Bharat" — every rural household with Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) and every village ODF Plus Model [S1].
- High-yield UPSC area: schemes, targets, constitutional locus (rural sanitation = State subject, but centrally sponsored), SDG-6 linkage.
2. Why in the News
- PIB Year-End Review released 1 January 2026 for DDWS achievements in 2025 [S1].
- Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2025 (17 Sept – 2 Oct 2025) mobilised 18 crore people, with 13 crore from rural India; theme: "Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath" [S1].
- Union & MoS Jal Shakti led Shramdaan at Kalindi Kunj [S1].
3. Background & Evolution
- SBM (Grameen) launched 2 October 2014; Phase I achieved ODF status; Phase II (2020–21 to 2024–25, extended) focuses on ODF Plus (ODF sustainability + Solid & Liquid Waste Management) [S1].
- Jal Jeevan Mission launched 15 August 2019 by PM; target: FHTC to every rural household by 2024 (since extended) [S3][S4].
- Predecessors: Total Sanitation Campaign (1999) → Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (2012) → SBM-G (2014); National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP, 2009) → JJM (2019).
4. Core Static Facts
- Parent Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti; Department: Drinking Water & Sanitation [S1].
- Schemes: SBM-G Phase II; Jal Jeevan Mission [S1].
- JJM budget outlay enhanced to ₹67,000 crore (Union Budget) [S5].
- JJM funding pattern: 90:10 (NE & Himalayan/UTs without legislature), 50:50 (other States), 100% (UTs with legislature) — standard CSS pattern.
- SBM-G Phase II focus areas: ODF-S, SLWM, plastic waste, GOBARdhan, faecal sludge management, greywater management.
- Constitutional locus: Water & sanitation = State List (Entry 6, 17); reinforced by 73rd Amendment, 11th Schedule (Panchayat functions incl. drinking water, sanitation).
Key Numbers (2025)
| Indicator | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rural HHs with tap water (Dec 2025) | 15.76 crore (81.42%) | [S4] |
| Schools with tap supply | 9,23,297 | [S4] |
| Anganwadis with tap supply | 9,66,876 | [S4] |
| Water-quality labs | 2,843 | [S4] |
| Water samples tested (2025-26) | 38.78 lakh across 4,49,961 villages | [S4] |
| ODF Plus (Model) villages | >83% of villages | [S1] |
| Villages with SWM arrangements | 5.27 lakh | [S1] |
| Villages with LWM arrangements | 5.41 lakh | [S1] |
| IHHLs built since 2 Oct 2014 | 12 crore+ | [S1] |
| Community Sanitary Complexes | 2.67 lakh | [S1] |
5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis
Social - FHTCs reduce drudgery of women/girls fetching water; sanitation reduces open-defecation-linked health risk for Dalits, tribals, children [S4]. - "Hamara Shauchalay, Hamara Bhavishya" repaired >1 lakh IHHLs and 550+ CSCs in 2025 [S1].
Environmental - SLWM components target plastic waste (5,300+ blocks have Plastic Waste Management) and greywater [S1]. - GOBARdhan under SBM-G converts cattle/organic waste to biogas — circular economy linkage.
Administrative / Federalism - Centrally sponsored; implemented by State PHEDs / Jal Nigams and Gram Panchayats (VWSC – Village Water & Sanitation Committee, a Pani Samiti sub-committee). - Bottleneck: source sustainability, O&M, tariff recovery; quality (As, F, Fe contamination) in WB, Assam, Bihar, Rajasthan.
Scientific / Technological - JJM dashboard + IoT-based sensor pilots for FHTC functionality; water-quality testing via Field Test Kits (FTKs) and labs (NABL accreditation push) [S4].
SDG / Global - Direct contribution to SDG-6 (Clean Water & Sanitation), SDG-3 (health), SDG-5 (gender).
6. Recent Developments (2025-26)
- 1 Jan 2026: Year-End Review released [S1].
- 15 Dec 2025: Tap water coverage crosses 81.42% of rural HHs [S4].
- 22 Oct 2025: 15.72 crore rural HHs with tap water [S4].
- 17 Sept – 2 Oct 2025: Swachhata Hi Seva 2025 campaign — 18 crore participants [S1].
- 2025: Special Campaign 5.0 implemented by DDWS for swachhata & pendency reduction [S2].
7. Prelims Hooks
- DDWS sits under Ministry of Jal Shakti (not Ministry of Rural Development since 2019) [S1].
- JJM launched 15 August 2019; aim — Har Ghar Jal [S3].
- JJM budget outlay ₹67,000 crore (enhanced) [S5].
- SBM-G launched 2 October 2014; Phase II began 2020-21 [S1].
- ODF Plus = ODF sustained + SWM + LWM + visual cleanliness [S1].
- >83% villages = ODF Plus Model as of YER 2025 [S1].
- SHS 2025 slogan: "Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath" [S1].
- 15.76 crore rural HHs had tap water by Dec 2025 (81.42%) [S4].
- 2,843 water-testing labs under JJM [S4].
- Rural sanitation is in 11th Schedule of the Constitution (Panchayat subject).
- GOBARdhan scheme = Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan — under SBM-G.
- JJM funding for North-East/Himalayan States = 90:10.
8. Mains Relevance
- GS-II: Government policies for vulnerable sections; welfare schemes; issues of service delivery.
- GS-III: Inclusive growth; infrastructure (water).
- GS-I: Role of women (drudgery reduction); social empowerment.
Probable stems: 1. "Jal Jeevan Mission represents a paradigm shift from supply-driven to demand-driven rural water governance. Examine." 2. "ODF Plus is more ambitious than ODF. Discuss the challenges of solid and liquid waste management in rural India." 3. "Drinking water and sanitation are quintessential examples of cooperative federalism in welfare delivery. Critically analyse."
9. Related Topics to Study Next
- Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain — water conservation parallel.
- Atal Bhujal Yojana — groundwater management complement to JJM.
- AMRUT 2.0 — urban water counterpart.
- Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0 — urban sanitation twin.
- 73rd Constitutional Amendment / 11th Schedule — Panchayats deliver these schemes.
- SDG-6 indicators & India's VNR.
- GOBARdhan & National Bio-Energy Programme — waste-to-wealth.
- National Water Policy 2012 — overarching framework.
10. Common Errors / Trap Areas
- DDWS is under Jal Shakti, NOT Rural Development (shifted in 2019 reorganisation).
- JJM launch year is 2019, not 2014 (confused with SBM).
- ODF ≠ ODF Plus; ODF Plus adds SWM+LWM+visual cleanliness sustenance.
- SBM-G Phase II started 2020-21, not directly after Phase I in 2019.
- Water = State subject; Centre's role via CSS funding — don't claim Centre "implements".
- Har Ghar Jal is a JJM tagline, not a separate scheme.
11. Sources
- [S1] YEAR END REVIEW; DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER & SANITATION — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2210554 — (tier 1)
- [S2] DDWS Special Campaign 5.0 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2186870 — (tier 1)
- [S3] Jal Jeevan Mission: 15 Crore Rural Families — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2098651 — (tier 1)
- [S4] Tap Water Connections under JJM — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2205852 — (tier 1)
- [S5] Budget Outlay for JJM ₹67,000 crore — https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2098368 — (tier 1)