Sujalam Bharat vision summit charts India’s nationwide plan for long-term water security

The two-day national summit outlines India’s roadmap for sustainable water management, community participation and future-ready water security systems.

India’s growing water crisis, visible in cities where residents wait several days for supply, has pushed the nation to prioritise long-term water security. Against this backdrop, the Jal Shakti Ministry, in coordination with NITI Aayog, conducted the Sujalam Bharat Vision Summit 2025, which concluded on November 29. The summit has become a central platform for shaping national policies on water conservation, sustainable usage and safe drinking water.

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The summit emphasised that India’s rapid socio-economic growth is inseparable from technological innovation, environmental responsibility and national security. As the country faces challenges from urbanisation, industrial expansion, changing land-use patterns and climate variability, the need for strong water conservation systems backed by community participation has become vital.

Sujalam Bharat Vision focuses on six thematic pillars: revival of rivers and water bodies, greywater management, technology-based water solutions, water conservation, sustainable drinking water supply and large-scale community engagement. The approach aims to create an integrated, science-based framework to secure India’s water resources for future generations.

One of the major highlights was the renewed push towards community-led water governance. Traditional wisdom, local participation and grassroots involvement were identified as essential components of resilient water systems. The summit also underlined the importance of cleanliness, sanitation and environmental health, explaining how reliable water supply reduces disease, strengthens nutrition, supports livelihoods and enhances quality of life, especially for women who bear the brunt of water collection in many regions.

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Several flagship programmes were reviewed, including Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Namami Gange, Swachh Bharat Mission and Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Under JJM, 15 crore rural households now have tap water connections. The mission, launched on August 15, 2019, aims to provide drinking water to every rural home by 2028, ensuring at least 55 litres per person per day.

The summit also highlighted national campaigns like Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain, which promotes rainwater harvesting structures, and the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative, which encourages mass public participation in water conservation.