4 min readNew DelhiMar 11, 2026 05:23 AM IST
First published on: Mar 10, 2026 at 03:07 PM IST
Months after the Centre launched a crackdown on widespread irregularities in the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), its showpiece rural drinking water scheme, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved an additional allocation of Rs 1.51 lakh crore for the initiative till 2028 — with digital mapping to ensure “transparency and accountability”.
Union I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters that the scheme will have an overall outlay of Rs 8.70 lakh crore till 2028. Of this amount, the Centre’s outlay will now be Rs 3.59 lakh crore, including Rs 2.08 lakh crore allocated in 2019.
Taking to X later, PM Narendra Modi said that the decision “marks a major step towards ensuring sustainable and reliable tap water supply for rural households”. “It shifts the focus from only infrastructure creation to citizen-centric service delivery supported by strong local governance and digital monitoring. The move will strengthen water security, improve health outcomes and empower rural communities, especially our Nari Shakti,” he posted.
According to an official statement, a uniform national digital framework called “Sujalam Bharat” will also be set up to digitally map the supply system “from source to tap”. Besides, in the second phase, separate MoUs will be signed with states within three months to ensure structural reforms.
The Cabinet’s approval comes more than a year after Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the extension of the scheme till 2028 with “an enhanced total outlay” while presenting the Union Budget last year.
The amount, however, is much lower than what was initially sought by Jal Shakti Ministry, the nodal ministry responsible for implementing JJM.
Launched in August 2019, JJM initially aimed to deliver 55 litres per capita per day of drinking water to all rural households by 2024.
In the Union Budget 2025-26, Sitharaman had allocated Rs 67,000 crore for JJM but this was revised downward to Rs 17,000 crore later. Sources said the actual spending will be even lower as the Cabinet’s approval has come in the last month of the current financial year.
The Indian Express first reported on April 21, 2025 that the Jal Shakti Ministry had sought an allocation of Rs 2.79 lakh crore for JJM till 2028. This newspaper also reported that the request was rejected by the Finance Ministry amid concerns over irregularities, corruption and poor quality of work.
A month later, the Centre sent over 100 teams of officials across the country for ground inspections in this regard. PM Narendra Modi, too, directed Jal Shakti Ministry officials to take action against those who have committed irregularities in the scheme.
On November 10, 2025, The Indian Express reported that action was taken against at least 596 officials, 822 contractors and 152 Third Party Inspection Agencies (TPIAs) linked to the scheme across 15 states and UTs.
Under the new digital framework, the official statement said, “every village shall be assigned a unique Sujal Gaon/ Service Area ID, digitally mapping the complete drinking water supply system from source to tap”.
“For ensuring transparency and accountability”, Gram Panchayats and Village Water & Sanitation Committees will be involved “in the commissioning and formal handover of schemes,” it said. “A Gram Panchayat shall certify completion of works and declare itself ‘Har Ghar Jal’ only upon confirmation that adequate in-village operation and maintenance mechanisms have been established by the State Government,” the statement said.
In a separate report published on May 21, 2025, this newspaper also published the findings of its investigation of data uploaded by states and UTs on JJM dashboard, showing how changes to the Mission’s guidelines led to additional costs totalling Rs 16,839 crore — an increase of 14.58 per cent from their estimated cost.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced extension of the JJM till 2028 
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