NEWS: The government is utilizing integrated water data, digital twins, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) under the Jal Jeevan Mission to enable localized water budgeting at the village level.

ABOUT

• This initiative was announced by Ashok K. Meena, Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• The announcement was made during the launch of the case study 'From Gujarat to India: Water Lessons for the World' at IIM Bangalore.

INTEGRATED PLATFORM & DIGITAL TWIN

• Decision-Support System -> Combines data on rainfall, water, aquifers, runoff, and inputs from various departments into an easy-to-understand platform for local implementers.
• Digital Twin Infrastructure -> Maps the entire chain from the source to households, developed as Suja-lam DPI (a digital public infrastructure for the entire country).
• Micro & Macro Visibility -> Provides clear visibility for the operation and maintenance of water infrastructure at both local micro-utility and macro-utility levels.
• Predictive Maintenance -> AI and new technologies assist officials with predictive maintenance and spotting water supply sustainability problems before they occur.

WATER BUDGETING & LOCAL GOVERNANCE

• Gram Panchayats -> Data will be made available to gram panchayats for water-balance studies and water budgeting.
• Core Purpose -> Helps local authorities assess incoming water amounts, usage volumes, deficit or surplus status, and best water use strategies.
• Data Ownership -> Data will be owned by State governments while remaining visible at the national level.

KEY STATISTICS & CASE STUDY FINDINGS

• Rural Progress -> Across rural India, 464 million more people use safely managed drinking water today than in 2000.
• Tap Coverage -> Rural household tap coverage increased from 17% in 2019 to over 80% in 2026.
• Budget Allocations -> Union water sector allocations increased from 0.8% of the total Union Budget in 2001–02 to 2.2% in 2025–26.