As per recent data shared in the Lok Sabha, about 3.54 crore rural households in India, accounting for 18.29% of such households, do not have access to tap water supply. Kerala and Jharkhand have the highest percentage of village homes awaiting this essential facility, with over 44% of households in these states lacking tap water connections. In Kerala, approximately 45.12% of rural households are without tap water, while in Jharkhand, the figure stands at 44.82%.
In Kerala, around 31.93 lakh rural households are still waiting for piped water supply, while in Jharkhand, the number is 28.03 lakh. On a positive note, 11 states and union territories have achieved 100% coverage in providing tap water supply to rural households under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal initiative launched in 2019. These regions include Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tripura, Nagaland, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Arunachal Pradesh, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Since the inception of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal initiative, significant progress has been made in expanding tap water connections to rural households. As of March 3, 2026, more than 12.58 crore additional rural households have been provided with tap water connections, bringing the total percentage of rural households with tap water supply to 81.71%. However, work is still ongoing for the remaining 3.54 crore households at various stages of implementation in different states.
Under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), the Bureau of Indian Standards’ BIS:10500 standards are followed to ensure the quality of water supplied through piped water schemes. States and union territories are allowed to allocate up to 2% of their annual funds under JJM for Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance activities. This includes setting up water quality testing laboratories, procurement of equipment, and conducting awareness programs on water quality.
A ‘Concise Handbook for Monitoring Water Quality of Piped Drinking Water Supply to Rural Households’ was released to guide states and union territories in ensuring the quality of drinking water supplied to households. The handbook emphasizes comprehensive testing at various points to maintain the prescribed water quality standards. Additionally, the functionality of household tap water connections provided under the Mission is assessed through an independent third-party agency to ensure proper functionality and quality of water supply.
