It has been a historic year for the Indian Economy. From a period of low growth, high inflation and shrinking production, the NDA Government has not only strengthened our macro-economic fundamentals, but has also propelled the economy to a higher growth trajectory. India’s GDP Growth rocketed to 7.4%, which is the fastest among all the large economies of the world. Various rating agencies and think tanks have predicted that India’s growth would accelerate sharply in the next few years under the NDA Government. Banking on the strong fundamentals & reforms being undertaken by the NDA Government, Moody’s upgraded India’s rating from ‘stable’ to ‘positive’ recently.
When BRICS was launched, a lot of people felt that the “I” (India) does not belong to the league and India was seen with skepticism. Now, it is India which is perceived to be powering the BRICS as its growth engine.
With the Government’s thrust on manufacturing, Index of Industrial Production grew at 2.1% this year after the negative growth last year. Inflation (WPI) has seen a steady decline, from 5.55% in April 2014 to -2.65% in April 2015. FDI Inflows are increasing at a historic pace. The FDI Equity Inflows shot up by 40% to reach Rs 1,75,886 crore from Rs 1,25,960 last year. The Fiscal Deficit is in a state of steady decline. India’s current account deficit reduced from 4.7% of GDP last year to 1.7% of GDP this year. India’s Foreign Exchange Reserves have increased significantly, from $ 311.8 Billion to $ 352.1 Billion. This will provide insulation to India in the event of any global shocks.
6 Years of Jal Jeevan Mission: Transforming Lives, One Tap at a Time
August 14, 2025
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Jal Jeevan Mission has become a major development parameter to provide water to every household.” - PM Narendra Modi
For generations, the sight of women carrying pots of water on their heads was an everyday scene in rural India. It was more than a chore, it was a necessity that was an integral part of their everyday life. The water was brought back, often just one or two pots which had to be stretched for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and washing. It was a routine that left little time for rest, education, or income-generating work, and the burden fell most heavily on women.
Before 2014 water scarcity, one of India’s most pressing problems, was met with little urgency or vision. Access to safe drinking water was fragmented, villages relied on distant sources, and nationwide household tap connections were seen as unrealistic.
This reality began to shift in 2019, when the Government of India launched the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). A centrally sponsored initiative which aims at providing a Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household. At that time, only 3.2 crore rural households, a modest 16.7% of the total, had tap water. The rest still depended on community sources, often far from home.
As of July 2025, the progress under the Har Ghar Jal program has been exceptional, with 12.5 crore additional rural households connected, bringing the total to over 15.7 crore. The program has achieved 100% tap water coverage in 200 districts and over 2.6 lakh villages, with 8 states and 3 union territories now fully covered. For millions, this means not just access to water at home, but saved time, improved health, and restored dignity. Nearly 80% of tap water coverage has been achieved in 112 aspirational districts, a significant rise from less than 8%. Additionally, 59 lakh households in LWE districts have gained tap water connections, ensuring development reaches every corner. Acknowledging both the significant progress and the road ahead, the Union Budget 2025–26 announced the program’s extension until 2028 with an increased budget.
The Jal Jeevan Mission, launched nationally in 2019, traces its origins to Gujarat, where Narendra Modi, as Chief Minister, tackled water scarcity in the arid state through the Sujalam Sufalam initiative. This effort formed a blueprint for a mission that would one day aim to provide tap water to every rural household in India.
Though drinking water is a State subject, the Government of India has taken on the role of a committed partner, providing technical and financial support while empowering States to plan and implement local solutions. To keep the Mission on track, a strong monitoring system links Aadhaar for targeting, geo-tags assets, conducts third-party inspections, and uses IoT devices to track village water flow.
The Jal Jeevan Mission’s objectives are as much about people as they are about pipes. By prioritizing underserved and water-stressed areas, ensuring that schools, Anganwadi centres, and health facilities have running water, and encouraging local communities to take ownership through contributions or shramdaan, the Mission aims to make safe water everyone’s responsibility..
The impact reaches far beyond convenience. The World Health Organization estimates that achieving JJM’s targets could save over 5.5 crore hours each day, time that can now be spent on education, work, or family. 9 crore women no longer need to fetch water from outside. WHO also projects that safe water for all could prevent nearly 4 lakh deaths from diarrhoeal disease and save Rs. 8.2 lakhcrores in health costs. Additionally, according to IIM Bangalore and the International Labour Organization, JJM has generated nearly 3 crore person-years of employment during its build-out, with nearly 25 lakh women are trained to use Field testing Kits.
From the quiet relief of a mother filling a glass of clean water in her kitchen, to the confidence of a school where children can drink without worry, the Jal Jeevan Mission is changing what it means to live in rural India.
