Water Security is Central for a Viksit Bharat

UPSC Syllabus: Gs Paper 3- Indian economy and Infrastructure

Introduction

Water security is vital for human dignity, public health, agriculture, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. It is also a key requirement for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat. India faces growing pressure on its water resources due to population growth, urbanisation, climate change, and limited freshwater availability. In recent years, the country has adopted a more integrated approach that connects drinking water, sanitation, conservation, river rejuvenation, and climate resilience within a single water security framework.

India’s Water Security Challenge

1. Limited Freshwater Resources: India has nearly 18% of the world’s population but only about 4% of global freshwater resources. This creates constant pressure on available water resources.
2. Declining Water Availability: Rising population has reduced per capita water availability significantly over time. Water stress already affects large sections of the population.
3. Seasonal Rainfall Pattern: Nearly 70% of annual rainfall occurs within three months, making water availability highly uneven across seasons.
4. Growing Urban Pressure: Rapid urbanisation is increasing demand for drinking water and sanitation services. By 2050, an additional 416 million people are expected to live in Indian cities.
5. Climate-Related Risks: Climate change is increasing the frequency of floods and droughts. Changing weather patterns are creating new challenges for water management.
6. Economic Importance of Water: Water-dependent sectors contribute roughly half of India’s economic value addedand employ nearly 70% of the workforce, making water security critical for development.

Shift Towards Integrated Water Management

1. From Fragmented to Holistic Planning: Water challenges were earlier addressed through separate programmes. The focus has now shifted towards an integrated approach covering multiple dimensions of water management.
2. Water as a National Priority: Water is now treated as a shared national priority involving governments, departments, states, and local communities.
3. Connected Water Ecosystem: Drinking water, sanitation, groundwater recharge, river conservation, irrigation efficiency, wastewater reuse, and climate resilience are increasingly viewed as interconnected issues.
4. Community Participation: Public participation has become an important element of water conservation and management efforts. Community involvement is helping improve outcomes on the ground.
5. Focus on Long-Term Resilience: Investments in the water sector are being viewed as investments in national resilience rather than only developmental expenditure.

Key Pillars of India’s Water Security Transformation

A. Jal Jeevan Mission

1. Expansion of Household Tap Water: Rural tap water coverage increased from about 3.23 crore households (17%) at launch to more than 15.8 crore households, covering over 81% of rural India.
2. Target of Universal Coverage: The government is working towards achieving 100% rural tap water coverage by 2028.
3. Benefits for Women and Families: Household water supply has helped save more than 5.5 crore person-hours daily, allowing time to be used for education, livelihoods, childcare, and economic activities.
4. Health and Economic Benefits: Access to safe drinking water has reduced water-borne diseases and lowered out-of-pocket health expenditure for households. This has improved both public health and household financial security.

B. Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)

1. Behavioural Change and Public Participation: The sanitation movement showed that behavioural change and public participation can be achieved on a large scale.
2. Public Health Gains: According to the World Health Organisation, SBM-Grameen helped avert more than 3 lakh diarrhoea deaths between 2014 and October 2019.
3. Dignity and Safety: Household toilets improved dignity, privacy, and safety, particularly for rural women.
4. Beyond Open Defecation-Free Status: SBM-Grameen 2.0 focuses on sustainable solid and liquid waste management.

C. Water Conservation and Groundwater Recharge

1. Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Initiative: More than 1.55 crore rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge structures had been created by 31 May 2026.
2. Improving Groundwater Conditions: Assessments show better groundwater recharge and a reduction in over-exploited assessment units in several regions.
3. Environmental Recovery: Conservation efforts combined with community participation have helped reduce environmental stress.

D. River Rejuvenation and Water Infrastructure

1. Ken-Betwa River Linking Project: India’s first major river interlinking project is progressing to provide water to the water-scarce Bundelkhand region.
2. Namami Gange Programme: The programme demonstrates that environmental restoration and development can progress together.
3. Expansion of Sewage Treatment: Over the past decade, 4,260 MLD of sewage treatment capacity has been created.
4. Improved Water Quality: Biochemical Oxygen Demand reduced from 26 TPD in 2017 to 10.75 TPD in 2024, while effluent discharge declined from 349 MLD to 265.56 MLD. Monitoring shows pH and dissolved oxygen levels now meet bathing criteria at all monitored locations.

Emerging Innovations and Best Practices

1. Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM): Under Namami Gange, wastewater projects use HAM to ensure long-term treatment performance and compliance with effluent standards.
2. Performance-Based Service Delivery: Models in Karnataka and Shimla link payments with service quality, efficiency, water supply continuity, and operational performance.
3. 24×7 Water Supply Initiatives: Urban and rural projects have demonstrated that continuous and pressurised water supply can be achieved through better management systems.
4. Water Reuse and Circular Economy: Cities such as Chennai and Surat are expanding treated wastewater reuse, reducing pressure on freshwater resources.
5. Digital and Data-Based Management: Use of real-time monitoring, remote sensing, satellite imagery, weather forecasts, and water information systems is improving planning and resource management.

Way Forward

1. Improve Water-Use Efficiency: Greater efficiency is needed in water consumption across sectors to reduce pressure on limited resources.
2. Promote Recycling and Reuse: Expansion of wastewater treatment and reuse can support long-term water security.
3. Strengthen Water Governance: Better management, accountability, and coordination are needed across water institutions.
4. Enhance Climate Resilience: Water systems must be prepared to manage increasing flood and drought risks.
5. Encourage Citizen Participation: Long-term success will require sustained public involvement in conservation and water management efforts.

Conclusion

Water security is a critical pillar of Viksit Bharat. India’s experience shows that drinking water supply, sanitation, groundwater recharge, river conservation, wastewater management, and climate resilience cannot be addressed separately. Sustained investment, community participation, and integrated water management are essential for securing water resources, improving quality of life, and building long-term national resilience.

Question for practice:

Discuss how India’s integrated approach to drinking water, sanitation, water conservation, groundwater recharge, and river rejuvenation is strengthening water security and contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Source: The Hindu