<h2>Overview</h2>
<p>Amid rising concerns over cost escalations in the first phase of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) — a flagship water‑sector scheme launched on 15 August 2019 to provide every rural household with at least 55 litres of safe drinking water per day through tap connections (GS3: Water Resources, Rural Development).">Jal Jeevan Mission</span> (JJM), the Union government has introduced a stricter compliance regime for the revamped <strong>JJM 2.0</strong>. The move, announced on World Water Day (22 March), couples an extra allocation of <strong>Rs 1.51 lakh crore</strong> with a digital mapping system called <span class="key-term" data-definition="Sujal Bharat — a uniform national digital platform that assigns a unique Sujal Gaon ID to each village, mapping the entire rural water supply chain from source to tap (GS3: Water Resources, Governance).">Sujal Bharat</span>. The objective is to ensure transparency, curb irregularities, and meet the extended 2028 deadline for universal rural tap water.</p>
<h3>Key Developments (March 2026)</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Centre will scrutinise any JJM project costing more than <strong>Rs 100 crore</strong> before releasing central funds to states.</li>
<li>Four mandatory compliance conditions have been framed: signing a <span class="key-term" data-definition="MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) — a formal agreement between the Centre and a state/UT outlining responsibilities, timelines, and financial commitments for a specific scheme (GS2: Polity).">MoU</span>, creation of <span class="key-term" data-definition="Sujal Gaon ID — a unique digital identifier for each village that enables complete mapping of rural piped‑water assets from source to tap (GS3: Water Resources, Governance).">Sujal Gaon ID</span>, timely financial reconciliation, and notification of state operation & maintenance (O&M) policies.</li>
<li>By 20 March, eight states—including <strong>Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Gujarat</strong>—had signed the required MoUs.</li>
<li>The Union Cabinet approved an additional <strong>Rs 1.51 lakh crore</strong> for JJM 2.0, earmarked for digital mapping, structural reforms, and capacity building.</li>
<li>A national digital framework, <span class="key-term" data-definition="Sujal Bharat — a uniform national digital platform that assigns a unique Sujal Gaon ID to each village, mapping the entire rural water supply chain from source to tap (GS3: Water Resources, Governance).">Sujal Bharat</span>, will be set up to monitor the supply system “from source to tap”.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Important Structural Reforms</h3>
<p>The MoUs cover eleven reform areas aimed at strengthening governance and sustainability of rural drinking water systems. Highlights include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Institutional architecture for drinking‑water governance.</li>
<li>Service‑utility framework for rural water supply.</li>
<li>Citizen‑centric water‑quality monitoring.</li>
<li>Source‑sustainability and water‑security framework.</li>
<li>Digital data governance and participatory “Jan Bhagidari” mechanisms.</li>
<li>Capacity‑building, human‑resource skilling, and research‑innovation ecosystems.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Constitutional Context (GS1 & GS3)</h3>
<p>Water‑related rights and governance have constitutional underpinnings:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="key-term" data-definition="Article 21 — guarantees the right to life and personal liberty; the Supreme Court has interpreted it to include the right to clean drinking water (GS1: Constitution, GS3: Environment).">Article 21</span> has been read to encompass the right to safe water, as affirmed in cases like <em>Narmada Bachao Andolan v. Union of India</em> (2000).</li>
<li><span class="key-term" data-definition="Article 262 — empowers Parliament to enact laws for adjudicating inter‑state river‑water disputes, leading to the Inter‑State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (GS1: Constitution, GS3: Water Resources).">Article 262</span> provides the legal basis for resolving inter‑state water conflicts.</li>
<li>Entry 17 of the State List (List II) places water‑supply, irrigation, and canals under state jurisdiction, while Entry 56 of the Union List (List I) reserves regulation of inter‑state rivers for the Centre.</li>
</ul>
<h3>UPSC Relevance</h3>
<p>Understanding JJM 2.0 is crucial for several UPSC topics:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>GS‑3 (Water Resources & Rural Development):</strong> Scheme objectives, funding patterns, and digital governance mechanisms.</li>
<li><strong>GS‑2 (Polity):</strong> Centre‑state financial relations, MoU‑based compliance, and the role of the <span class="key-term" data-definition="Union Ministry of Jal Shakti — the nodal ministry responsible for water resources, drinking‑water supply, and sanitation programmes (GS2: Polity, GS3: Water Resources).">Ministry of Jal Shakti</span>.</li>
<li><strong>GS‑1 (Constitution):</strong> Articles 21, 262 and the division of powers on water between Union and states.</li>
<li><strong>GS‑4 (Ethics & Governance):</strong> Transparency, accountability, and citizen participation through “Jan Bhagidari”.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>For effective implementation, aspirants should monitor:</p>
<ul>
<li>State‑wise progress on MoU signing and Sujal Gaon ID generation.</li>
<li>Utilisation of the additional Rs 1.51 lakh crore and its impact on cost overruns.</li>
<li>Integration of <span class="key-term" data-definition="Inter‑State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 — legislation enabling the central government to adjudicate inter‑state river‑water disputes (GS1: Constitution, GS3: Water Resources).">Inter‑State River Water Disputes Act</span> mechanisms with JJM’s source‑sustainability goals.</li>
<li>Feedback loops from Gram Panchayats and Village Water & Sanitation Committees on scheme completion and “Har Ghar Jal” certification.</li>
</ul>
<p>By linking financial disbursement to concrete compliance metrics and a robust digital platform, the Centre aims to achieve the mission’s 2028 target of universal rural tap water, a benchmark that will feature prominently in future UPSC examinations.</p>
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