Reform Linked MoUs Signed with Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Nagaland under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0

📌 Summary:

• Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri C.R. Patil oversaw signing of Reform-Linked MoUs under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 with 4 States — Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland — and UT Puducherry, via video conference on 2 June 2026
• JJM 2.0 shifts focus from infrastructure creation to a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based, community-centred model — O&M, water quality, source sustainability and Jan Bhagidari are core priorities
• Reform-linked clauses mandate: NABL-accredited water-testing labs, regular DWSM meetings, Jal Arpan Diwas for formal handover of assets to Gram Panchayats, and notification of an O&M policy (especially for Arunachal's mountainous terrain)
• Minister stressed water conservation, rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, greywater management and catchment-area protection as integral to JJM 2.0
• Implementation framework: Gram Panchayats + District Water & Sanitation Missions (DWSMs) + State Water & Sanitation Missions (SWSMs) + local communities; tied to Viksit Bharat @ 2047
• State-specific guidance: Arunachal — O&M policy for mountainous terrain; Jharkhand — accelerate faster completion of FHTCs and source sustainability; Tamil Nadu — strengthen DWSM monitoring; Nagaland — Centre–State coordination on functionality; Puducherry — community-based water quality surveillance
• Goal: every rural household to have access to adequate, prescribed-quality drinking water on a regular basis with strengthened community participation

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 — Governance — Centre-State cooperative federalism in welfare delivery; reform-linked scheme architecture; GS3 — Water security and rural infrastructure; SDG-6 (Clean Water & Sanitation).

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Jal Jeevan Mission launched: 2019 (announced 15 August 2019)
• Aim — Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household
• Administered by Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti
• JJM 2.0 emphasises O&M, water quality, source sustainability, community ownership (post-saturation phase)
• States/UT that signed reform-linked MoU on 2 June 2026: Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland + UT Puducherry
• "Jal Arpan Diwas" — formal handover of completed assets to Gram Panchayats
• Implementing bodies: Gram Panchayats, DWSMs (District), SWSMs (State)
• NABL = National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories — accredits water-testing labs

🔑 Key Term: Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 — next phase of JJM that emphasises sustainability, service delivery, water quality monitoring and Gram-Panchayat-led O&M of rural water assets, moving beyond the initial focus on creating Functional Household Tap Connections. Reform-linked MoUs tie central support to State-level adoption of community ownership and O&M reforms.