In a historic leap towards securing a healthier and more dignified life for its people, India has attained almost universal coverage of improved drinking water sources for its rural population, a milestone in the country’s development history. As per the recent Sustainable Development Goals National Indicator Framework (SDG NIF) Progress Report 2025, published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the rural population accessing improved drinking water has increased to a record 99.62 percent from 94.57 percent in 2015-25.
This remarkable feat is a testament not just to India’s unyielding devotion towards attaining Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) aimed at ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all but also to the incredible speed with which the nation has adopted innovative policies and schemes to revamp the lives of its citizens.
India has embarked on a range of ambitious programmes to secure its water future. The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), launched in 2015, is playing a crucial role in improving urban water infrastructure. With a target of 500 cities, AMRUT has provided universal water supply, intelligent management systems, and major infrastructure improvements. As of 2024, more than 80 per cent of the targeted water supply projects under AMRUT have been completed, impacting nearly 4 crore urban citizens.
Har Ghar Jal: Taps in Every Home, Dignity for Every Family
At the heart of this revolution is the JJM, initiated by the Government of India in August 2019 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The mission aimed for an ambitious goal of bringing safe and adequate drinking water to every rural home, school, and anganwadi centre through individual tap connections.
Within a little more than five years, JJM has emerged as one of the world’s biggest and quickest rural drinking water expansion programs. Rural households connected to tap water increased from 3.23 crore in 2019 to more than 15.4 crore by the beginning of 2025. This equates to more than 76 percent of rural households having tap water facility at their doorsteps, changing daily lives for millions of families.
Significantly, the mission has emphasised quality, sustainability, and community involvement. Over two million women in rural areas have been trained to carry out water quality testing with simple to use field test kits. Their participation guarantees recurring monitoring and improves community ownership of water supply schemes.
The benefits of JJM go beyond the numbers. It has increased dignity, decreased drudgery, enhanced health outcomes, and saved time, particularly for rural women and girls, who were originally responsible for collecting water from far-off places.
Swachh Bharat Mission: A Clean India, A Healthy India
Clean water and sanitation are intertwined. India’s stellar achievement under SDG Target 6.2 which deals with access to safe and affordable sanitation and hygiene for all, is another glaring example of successful governance and people’s participation.
The Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) initiated in 2014 has revolutionised the sanitation situation in rural India. Rural sanitation coverage went from 56 per cent in 2015-16 to a whopping 85.48 percent in 2024-25, according to the SDG NIF report published by MoSPI.
Millions of toilets have been built, and the campaign has been able to usher in a behavioural change, converting toilet usage to a social norm. The government announced rural India open defecation free (ODF) in 2019, a benchmark that goes a long way to improve health, safeguard the environment, and general well-being.
Wastewater Treatment: Towards Cleaner Villages and Cities
While ensuring safe drinking water is vital, effective wastewater management is equally crucial for environmental sustainability and public health. Under Target 6.3, India has made commendable progress in treating domestic wastewater.
The SDG NIF report highlights that the proportion of domestic wastewater safely treated has increased from 36.6 percent in 2015-16 to 52.7 percent in 2024-25. This is a significant achievement for a developing country of India’s size and population.
Flagship projects like the Namami Gange Mission have created international benchmarks for rejuvenation of rivers and treatment of wastewater. Number of towns along the Ganga now have advanced sewage treatment plants with real-time monitoring mechanisms that ensure the treated water conforms to specified standards before letting it flow into rivers.
Getting the Most Out of Every Drop
India has registered appreciable improvements in water use efficiency, particularly in agriculture, which is a large proportion of water consumption. In Target 6.4, the efficiency of water use, expressed as economic output per cubic metre of water, has increased from Rs 213.5 in 2015-16 to Rs 265.7 in 2024-25.
This has been achieved through extensive promotion of micro irrigation methods like drip and sprinkler irrigation, backed by the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and other state driven schemes.
These measures not only save water but also enhance agricultural production and farmers’ incomes, adding to the country’s economic and food security.
Integrated Water Resource Management
Integrated water management calls for planned coordination across sectors, regions, and stakeholders. India has improved its Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) capacity considerably under Target 6.5.
India’s IWRM score has risen from 57 percent in 2015 to 72 percent in 2025, with improved policy integration, stakeholder coordination, and evidence-based decision making.
The Atal Bhujal Yojana, which came into effect in 2019, has helped enable community led groundwater management in seven water stressed states. Under this program, thousands of gram panchayats are now actively involved in monitoring the levels of groundwater, following water conserving agriculture practices, and installing recharge structures.
A Commitment to Nature
India understands the critical importance of water-related ecosystems in attaining water security and environmental sustainability. Initiatives like the Jal Shakti Abhiyan and the Amrit Sarovar scheme are reviving thousands of traditional water bodies, ponds, and lakes in India.
They help in the recharge of groundwater, protection of biodiversity, and climate resilience, so that the coming generations get to live in a healthier and more sustainable environment.
The Heart of India’s Water Success
One of the characteristic aspects of India’s strategy for attaining SDG 6 is its focus on community engagement and local empowerment.
In Bundelkhand, to cite just one example, women Jal Sahelis who are leading groups have restored hundreds of ponds and traditional water systems, improving water availability and farm livelihood. In Maharashtra, the Pani Foundation has organised thousands of villages to initiate watershed management projects, converting drought-prone areas to water-rich success stories.
These grassroots movements, augmented by government programs and civil society initiatives, prove that empowering communities makes sustainable development a common reality.
International Acclaim for India’s SDG 6 Successes
India’s sterling performance in water and sanitation has found international recognition. The United Nations and global institutions have repeatedly applauded India’s massive scale, inclusive, and innovative approach to attaining SDG 6.
Additionally, India’s water management leadership was highlighted at international forums like the UN 2023 Water Conference, where India’s efforts were cited as instances of scalable, community-led solutions.
A Healthier, More Dignified Future for Millions
The actual effect of India’s SDG 6 success can be seen in people’s everyday lives. Women no longer need to travel miles to get water in rural homes. Children, particularly girls, can go to school on a regular basis without breaks to collect water. People are healthier because they have access to clean water and sanitation. Villages are cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable.
Safe drinking water and sanitation is not merely a development objective. It is a driver for social empowerment, economic development, and human dignity.
Sustaining and Expanding the Gains
Though remarkable progress has been made by India, the path to universal and sustainable access to water and sanitation still lies ahead. The government’s firm commitment, interposed with that of communities, private sector partners, and civil society, will be central in consolidating these gains.
Future plans involve increased expansion of JJM tap water connections, increased installation of wastewater treatment facilities, climate resilient water management promotion, and enablement of local institutions to effectively manage water resources.
India’s success proves that visionary leadership, specially formulated policies, and participation of the people can achieve even the most ambitious developmental aspirations.
A Global Example in Action
India’s achievement in progressing SDG 6 demonstrates what can be achieved when a country commits to inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development. Near universal coverage of improved drinking water in rural areas, unprecedented sanitation progress, and integrated water management make India a global benchmark in water and sanitation.
As the globe rolls towards the 2030 deadline to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, India’s success in Goal 6 is a shining example of hope, ingenuity, and resolve.
By ensuring that all Indians, no matter where they are located or which class they belong to, have access to clean water and sanitation, the country is not only meeting its international obligations but also renewing its commitment to health, dignity, and opportunity for all.
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