India's Drinking Water and Sanitation Budget Sees Minimal Increase for 2024-2025

For the fiscal year 2024-2025, the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation has been allocated Rs 77,390.68 crores, marking a 0.5% increase from the previous year's budget. Significant portions of the funds are dedicated to the Jal Jeevan Mission and the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), as well as regional and state-specific projects.

The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation has secured a budgetary allocation of Rs 77,390.68 crores for the fiscal year 2024-2025.

This is a slight increase of 0.5% from the revised estimate of Rs 77,032.65 crore announced for the 2023-2024 budget. A significant chunk of this allocation is aimed at the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), receiving Rs 69,926.65 crore to provide functional household tap connections to every rural household by 2024.

Additionally, Rs 95 crore has been earmarked for the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation (SPM-NIWAS), a substantial hike from the Rs 3 crore allocated last year. The Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) retains its funding at Rs 7,192 crore, focusing on Open Defecation Free (ODF) status and waste management in rural areas. Other allotments include Rs 35.78 crore for Secretariat and economic services, Rs 7,632.19 crore for Northeast India, Rs 5,169.86 crore in grants to state governments, and Rs 250 crore in grants to Union Territories.