Pratidin
Environment and geographySchemes2019

Jal Jeevan Mission

Functional tap water connections for rural households.

Written by Pratidin; every fact checked by a separate review before publishing. How we work

Ministry of Jal Shakti, implemented with the States.

Water pots lined up to be filled at a street tap in India.
Water pots lined up to be filled at a street tap in India. McKay Savage from London, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Practise this in the app: flashcards, quiz and a timed answer
Prelims

Quick recall

When was Jal Jeevan Mission launched?
15 August 2019.
What does it target?
A functional household tap connection for every rural household.
How much water per person per day?
At least 55 litres.
Which ministry runs it?
The Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Who manages village water systems?
Village water and sanitation committees (Pani Samitis).
Which quality standard applies?
BIS drinking water standards.

Asked before in UPSC

Recurring theme: Water security and drinking water service delivery

Mains
  1. 2023 · GS1 · 10 marks

    Why is the world today confronted with a crisis of availability of and access to freshwater resources?

    JJM addresses the access half of the crisis; groundwater depletion threatens the availability half.

  2. 2020 · GS3 · 10 marks

    What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India for water conservation and water security?

    Jal Shakti Abhiyan and Jal Jeevan Mission sit under the same Ministry; source sustainability is the condition for functional taps.

  3. 2019 · GS1 · 15 marks

    What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India?

    Regional water stress explains why JJM's functionality varies across States despite high connection numbers.

  4. 2017 · GS2 · 10 marks

    'To ensure effective implementation of policies addressing water, sanitation and hygiene needs, the identification of beneficiary segments is to be synchronized with the anticipated outcomes' Examine the statement in the context of the WASH scheme.

    JJM's household tap coverage and village water committees are the current WASH delivery model.

  5. 2015 · GS1 · 12.5 marks

    India is well endowed with fresh water resources. Critically examine why it still suffers from water scarcity.

    Use JJM to show the gap between endowment and delivered drinking water at household level.

The basics

Why it matters

Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in 2019, aims to give every rural household a functional tap connection with safe drinking water, replacing hand pumps and long walks for water.

55 litres
Target supply per person per day
Of potable water, under Jal Jeevan Mission.

What 'functional' means

A tap is not enough; the service must work.

Functional household tap connection
  1. 1QuantityAt least 55 litres per person per day
  2. 2QualityMeets BIS drinking water standards
  3. 3RegularitySupply on a regular basis
  4. 4CommunityVillage water committees run the system

You now know

  • Launched on 15 August 2019 under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
  • Target: a functional tap connection for every rural household.
  • Service standard: 55 litres per person per day of safe water.
  • Community ownership through village water and sanitation committees.

Go deeper

In one line: Jal Jeevan Mission is bringing piped water into rural homes, but sustaining supply matters as much as laying pipes.

Why it matters for UPSC

Water security and rural infrastructure are frequent topics.

The core idea

Taps work only if there is water at the source, so Source sustainability and Community water management decide success.

Where to go next

In one line: Coverage has expanded rapidly; functionality and sources are the test.

Challenges

Depleting groundwater sources, poor maintenance and water quality issues.

Solutions

Recharge, surface water schemes and Source sustainability plans; strong Community water management with tariffs for upkeep.

Where to go next

Source sustainability

Ensuring water at the source

In one line: Source sustainability means making sure water sources do not run dry.

Measures

Rainwater harvesting, recharge structures and greywater reuse.

Why it matters

Many rural schemes rely on groundwater that is depleting.

Where to go next

Community water management

Villages running their own systems

In one line: Community water management means villages plan, run and pay for their water systems.

Bodies

Village water and sanitation committees with women members.

Benefit

Better maintenance and accountability.

Where to go next

Prelims-style quiz

  1. Jal Jeevan Mission aims to supply drinking water of at least:

    1. 40 lpcd
    2. 70 lpcd
    3. 55 lpcd
    4. 135 lpcd
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) 55 lpcd. 55 litres per capita per day.

  2. Consider the following:
    1. Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in 2019.
    2. It is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1 only. It is run by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

  3. A key feature of JJM is:

    1. Only urban coverage
    2. Free bottled water
    3. Community management through village committees
    4. Private ownership of water
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Community management through village committees. Village committees manage systems.

  4. Women in villages are trained under JJM to:

    1. Run banks
    2. Manage schools
    3. Test water quality with field kits
    4. Build dams
    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Test water quality with field kits. Women test water quality using field test kits.

Syllabus

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