Govt Launches Sujalam Bharat App to Boost Digital Rural Water Governance

Highlighting the importance of the launch, the Union Minister said the Sujalam Bharat App marks a significant step toward greater transparency, community participation, and accountability in rural water service delivery.

Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C.R. Patil today launched the Sujalam Bharat App, a major digital initiative aimed at transforming rural drinking water governance across India. Developed with the support of the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N), the app introduces advanced geo-referencing, real-time monitoring, and digital management tools for rural water supply systems under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).

A Technology-Driven Leap for Rural Water Systems

Highlighting the importance of the launch, the Union Minister said the Sujalam Bharat App marks a significant step toward greater transparency, community participation, and accountability in rural water service delivery. By offering comprehensive digital visibility into each water scheme, the platform empowers citizens, Gram Panchayats, and state institutions alike.

Senior officials—including Shri Ashok K.K. Meena, Secretary, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS), and Shri T.P. Singh, Director General, BISAG-N—addressed participating representatives from States and Union Territories via online mode, underscoring the crucial role of structured data integration and state-level adoption for nationwide success.

Sujalam Bharat – Sujal Gaon ID: The Digital Identity of Rural Water Schemes

A key highlight of the initiative is the introduction of a unique Sujalam Bharat – Sujal Gaon ID for every water scheme and its service area. Similar to how Aadhaar transformed identity systems in India, the Sujal Gaon ID will serve as the core identifier for rural water supply management. It will enable clear, digital mapping of:

• Which scheme supplies water to which households

• Service-area boundaries

• Asset condition and infrastructure status

• Water quality and supply reliability

• Operations and maintenance (O&M) arrangements

This system establishes a transparent, traceable, and analytically rich data framework for all rural drinking water schemes.

Comprehensive Digital Registry for Water Infrastructure

The Sujalam Bharat Database integrates a wide range of critical datasets into one unified digital platform, including:

• Water source information (groundwater, surface water, bulk supply)

• Asset inventories and geospatial mapping

• Scheme design and engineering details

• Daily operational metrics

• Water quality monitoring reports

• Household-level and community feedback

Through this integration, every habitation will now have a complete digital profile of its drinking water infrastructure and service delivery performance.

Strengthening Accountability and Community Oversight

The platform enhances transparency for Gram Panchayats, Village Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSCs), and service providers. With real-time visibility into water supply status and scheme performance, communities can more actively monitor service levels, report issues, and participate in decision-making.

Training States for Seamless Adoption

Following the launch, BISAG-N conducted a detailed orientation and hands-on training session for officials from across States and UTs. The session covered:

• App functionality and workflow

• Geo-referencing procedures

• Integration of existing water assets into the platform

• Real-time data uploading and validation

The training ensures states are well-prepared to operationalize the platform efficiently, strengthening the digital backbone of Jal Jeevan Mission.

Building Long-Term Water Security Through Digital Governance

The Sujalam Bharat digital registry will maintain comprehensive historical records of:

• Infrastructure conditions

• Repair and maintenance activities

• Performance indicators

• Supply continuity and quality benchmarks

This long-term repository will significantly enhance planning, forecasting, and sustainability. Additionally, integration with PM Gati Shakti GIS enables precision mapping of water networks, supporting future expansion and repair work with high accuracy.

A Milestone for Citizen-Centric Water Governance

The launch of the Sujalam Bharat App marks a major milestone toward establishing a secure, reliable, and technology-enabled ecosystem for rural drinking water services. By enabling data-driven decision-making and strengthening community ownership, the initiative ensures long-term sustainability in delivering safe drinking water to every rural household.

The Sujalam Bharat App will be available for public download on the Google Play Store soon.