UPSC current affairs · Sunday

Current Affairs, 22 March 2026

5 issues picked from 19 PIB releases · about 2 minutes each · written by UPSC Grade, each fact checked against its PIB release or by a second model

How to readRead “Why in news” and “What it is” for every issue. Open For Prelims or For Mains for the exam you’re preparing for, then Test yourself at the foot of each card. Half the news questions in Prelims are answered from background, not the news itself.

In 60 seconds

Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal Arpan. JJM 2.0 guidelines released; Mission extended to December 2028, shifting from building infrastructure to delivering water services.
Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks auctions. Seventh tranche of critical mineral block auctions, with 19 blocks, launches 23 March 2026.
District Mineral Foundation (DMF). Mines Ministry convenes national summit to improve DMF fund use in aspirational districts and blocks.
Informal Group of Ministers on West Asia. India eases LPG and fuel supply and protects citizens as Hormuz closure disrupts West Asia.
DISHA Scheme and Tele-Law. Kurukshetra workshop pushes Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu and legal literacy under the DISHA access-to-justice scheme.

Scheme

Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal Arpan

GS2 Welfare schemesGS3 Rural water supplyPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 22 March 2026, World Water Day, Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil digitally released the Operational Guidelines of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 at the close of Jal Mahotsav 2026. The Mission has been extended till December 2028.
What it is: Jal Jeevan Mission is the Centre's flagship scheme, run by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, to give every rural household a tap water connection. Jal Arpan is a reform under it: the formal handover of completed water supply schemes to Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees for operation and maintenance.

Jal Arpan: Formal handover of completed rural water supply schemes to Gram Panchayats and VWSCs, after a prescribed trial run period.
Coverage: More than 15.96 crore rural households, over 82% of rural households, have tap connections.
Jal Arpan module: Developed by the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation; keeps a digital record of scheme handover.
Sujalam Bharat: Geotagging of water supply assets and sources under JJM 2.0 to build a digital inventory.
Launch: Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in August 2019 with the target of tap water to all rural households by 2024.
Summit dates and venue: The first Departmental Summit is on 1-2 September 2026 at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi.
Purpose of the summit model: It is a new platform to strengthen cooperative federalism through Centre-State collaboration. It is the first of a series of such summits.
Four thematic pillars: Timely implementation of water infrastructure projects, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari-Catch the Rain, source sustainability of drinking water, and operation and maintenance of rural water supply under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.
Who attends: Political leaders and senior officials from the Union and State Governments take part.
Outcome presentation: States will present outcomes and action plans to the Prime Minister in the valedictory session.
Nodal ministry: Jal Jeevan Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
JJM 2.0 approval: JJM 2.0 was approved on 10 March 2026. Its strategy centres on source sustainability, groundwater recharge and greywater management.
Water security in the VB-G RAM G Act: The VB-G RAM G Act, 2025 names water security as one of its four thematic focus areas.
SBM(G) 2.0 focus: SBM(G) 2.0 focuses on scientific management of solid and liquid waste.
Planning vehicle: Convergence is to be done through Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans, aligned with Village Action Plans under JJM 2.0 and SBM-G 2.0.
Geo-tagging and tools: Works must be registered and geo-tagged on the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack. States are to use tools such as Yuktdhara, water budgeting and hydrogeological assessments.
Institutional step: The officer in charge of Rural Water Supply or the Public Health Engineering Department is to join the State-level Steering Committee under the Act.
Launch and aim: Launched on 15 August 2019 to give every rural household a functional tap connection on a regular, long-term basis.
Service standard: The Mission targets 55 litres per capita per day of water meeting the BIS 10500 standard, at affordable service charges.
Har Ghar Jal certification: 188 districts, 1,090 blocks, 1.01 lakh Gram Panchayats and 2.04 lakh villages are certified Har Ghar Jal.
Extension: The Union Government has extended the Mission till December 2028.
Signatories: MoUs were signed with four States (Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland) and one UT (Puducherry).
Model mandated: The MoU requires a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based and community-centred model of rural water governance.
JJM 2.0 priorities: Focus is on sustaining infrastructure, tap functionality, water quality, source sustainability, O&M, community ownership and regular monitoring.
Institutions: Collectors are to hold regular District Water and Sanitation Mission meetings, which help prepare Village Action Plans and certify Panchayats as capable institutions.
Conditions before fund release: States must sign the MoU, get schemes validated against the Sujalam Bharat GIS-linked Asset Registry, certify compliance with CPHEEO design norms, and reconcile expenditure financially.
Jal Utsav: A three-tier annual community campaign: Jal Mahotsav nationally, Rajya Jal Utsav or Nadi Utsav in States, and Lok Jal Utsav at Gram Panchayat level.
MoU count: Meghalaya is the twelfth State to sign a Reform-Linked MoU under JJM 2.0.
Cabinet approval: JJM 2.0 was approved by the Union Cabinet on 10 March 2026.
Extended deadline: The original deadline of May 2024 has been extended to December 2028.
Outlay: The Cabinet approved an additional outlay of ₹1.51 lakh crore for the Mission.
Local role: Gram Panchayats and VWSCs are to manage and operate in-village water supply systems; District Water Sanitation Missions prepare village action plans and issue panchayat certifications.
Implementing ministry: JJM is implemented by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Jal Mahotsav 2026: A 15-day nationwide campaign from 8 March (International Women's Day) to 22 March (World Water Day), with Jal Arpan of assets to Gram Panchayats.
Key reform areas: Assured service delivery with defined performance standards, clear accountability at State, district and Gram Panchayat levels, and long-term sustainability through source protection.
Implementing body: JJM is implemented by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, jointly with States.
New end date: The Mission is extended up to December 2028 with a higher financial outlay.
MoU model: The MoU mandates a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based, community-centred model of rural water governance.
Implementing department: The Mission is run by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, through the National Jal Jeevan Mission.
Original launch: JJM was launched in 2019 with the aim of tap water to every rural household by 2024.
Funding pattern: JJM is a centrally sponsored scheme; the Centre-State share is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, 50:50 for other States.
Start and aim: Running since August 2019, JJM aims at assured tap water to every rural household in partnership with States.
Extended phase: The extended phase focuses on infrastructure quality and O&M through Jan Bhagidhari, with separate MoUs signed with States/UTs.
Functionality assessment 2024: An independent third-party assessment found 76% of household tap connections functional, judged on quantity, quality and regularity.
Federal division: Drinking water is a state subject; States handle planning, approval, implementation and O&M, and the Centre gives technical and financial help.
Reform areas in MoU: The reform-linked MoU covers 11 structural reform areas, including institutional architecture, service utility framework, water quality governance and source sustainability.
Jal Arpan condition: A key MoU condition is that completed piped schemes be handed over to Gram Panchayats/VWSCs and the community through Jal Arpan.
Decision Support System: The MoU provides for the DSS platform, developed by DDWS, as a digital planning tool at district and GP levels for source sustainability, integrated with Sujalam Bharat and national water datasets.
Mission extension: JJM has been extended till December 2028 with an enhanced outlay.
Reform areas: The MoU covers 11 structural reform areas, such as service utility framework, water quality governance and source sustainability.
Sujal Gaon ID: A scheme-based unique digital identifier for mapping rural piped water supply assets. 1.64 lakh IDs are created across 31 States/UTs, linked to 67,000 Sujalam Bharat IDs.
Conditions for central funds: Central funds depend on four requirements: signing the MoU, creating Sujal Gaon IDs, timely financial reconciliation, and notifying State O&M policies.
Funding modes: Upfront payment, reimbursement and Viability Gap Funding (for annuity-based PPP models in BWSs). No central help for retrofitting schemes.
Har Ghar Jal declaration: A Gram Panchayat can declare itself Har Ghar Jal only after the State has set up adequate in-village operation and maintenance mechanisms.
Target and MoUs: All 19.36 crore rural households are to get tap connections by December 2028, with separate MoUs with States/UTs.
Water quality standard: BIS:10500 is the benchmark for water supplied under JJM; arsenic and fluoride affected habitations get priority.
Quality monitoring funds: States/UTs can use up to 2% of their annual JJM allocation for water quality monitoring and surveillance.
Nal Jal Mitra: Nal Jal Mitra Programme, run with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, trains villagers as scheme operators and for minor repairs.
Implementing agency: The scheme is run by the Ministry of Jal Shakti through its Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT): JJM targets rural household tap connections; AMRUT covers urban water supply and sewerage.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen): JJM is for drinking water supply; SBM-G is for sanitation. Both run under the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.

Don’t confuse with Jal Arpan vs Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari: Jal Arpan hands over completed water supply schemes to local bodies for operation and maintenance. Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari is a community-participation drive on water conservation and rainwater harvesting.

Don’t confuse with JJM vs SBM(G): JJM provides tap water to rural homes. SBM(G) deals with rural sanitation and waste management. Both are run by DDWS.

Don’t confuse with Jal Arpan vs JJM: Jal Arpan is only the handover of completed schemes for operation and maintenance. JJM is the whole mission.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs Jal Jal Shakti Abhiyan: JJM provides household tap connections in rural areas. Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a water conservation and rainwater harvesting campaign.

Don’t confuse with JJM vs Swajaldhara/NRDWP: Earlier programmes such as Swajaldhara and NRDWP focused on habitation-level coverage; JJM targets household tap service delivery.

Don’t confuse with Jal Arpan vs Jal Sankalp: Jal Arpan is the formal handover of water assets to Gram Panchayats. Jal Sankalp is Arunachal Pradesh's gap-funding effort for source sustainability.

Don’t confuse with Jal Arpan vs Jal Utsav: Jal Arpan is the commissioning and formal handover of schemes to Gram Panchayats and VWSCs. Jal Utsav is an annual community campaign for maintenance and review.

Don’t confuse with Sujalam Bharat vs Meri Panchayat: Sujalam Bharat is the digital asset and service-area mapping framework. Meri Panchayat is the application that reflects citizen feedback from Jal Seva Aankalan.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs Jal Sanchay: JJM provides tap water to rural homes; Jal Sanchay is the water conservation push that supports source sustainability.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs AMRUT: JJM covers rural households; AMRUT focuses on urban water supply and sewerage.

Don’t confuse with Jal Arpan vs Jal Mahotsav: Jal Arpan is the handover of water assets to local bodies; Jal Mahotsav is a community campaign during which such handovers were held.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs Jal Shakti Abhiyan: JJM is a tap connection scheme; Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a water conservation campaign.

Don’t confuse with Jal Shakti Abhiyan vs Jal Jeevan Mission: Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain is a water conservation campaign for source sustainability; JJM is the tap connection scheme.

Don’t confuse with Jal Seva Aankalan vs Jal Arpan: Jal Seva Aankalan records service delivery responses at GP level. Jal Arpan is the handover of schemes.

Don’t confuse with Sujal Gaon ID vs Sujalam Bharat ID: Sujal Gaon ID identifies a scheme. Each Sujalam Bharat ID combines a scheme's infrastructure ID and service area ID, and Sujalam Bharat is the wider national digital architecture.

Don’t confuse with Jal Jeevan Mission vs Jal Arpan: JJM is the overall scheme for rural tap connections; Jal Arpan is a reform under it for handing over completed schemes to GPs/VWSCs.

Don’t confuse with JJM vs Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin): JJM provides piped drinking water; SBM (Gramin) is the sanitation programme, with which JJM converges for grey-water reuse.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

Why it matters

Handing schemes to Gram Panchayats and VWSCs builds community ownership and supports the 73rd Amendment's local self-governance.
Geotagging and digital records improve monitoring and planning of rural water assets.
Institutionalises Centre-State dialogue on water, a State subject, supporting cooperative federalism.
Focus on operation and maintenance and source sustainability addresses the gap between creating tap connections and delivering reliable water.
Joint planning of water, sanitation and livelihood works can cut duplication and make better use of funds.
Source sustainability and groundwater recharge work can make tap water services last.
Reduces women's and girls' time spent fetching water, aiding health, education and livelihoods.
Moves rural water policy from creating assets to delivering a regular service.
Moves the mission from asset creation to reliable, accountable service delivery.
Strengthens decentralised governance by giving Gram Panchayats and VWSCs charge of O&M.
Linking funds to MoUs, validation and reconciliation brings accountability and performance-based release.
Focus on O&M and community ownership aims at lasting service, not just connections.
Shifts focus from building pipelines to sustainable service delivery.
Strengthens decentralisation by giving Gram Panchayats and VWSCs charge of operation and maintenance.
Shifts focus from building pipes to reliable, safe water, which supports health, hygiene and women's time savings.
Reform-linked MoUs bind States to accountability, strengthening cooperative federalism.
Shifts focus from creating pipelines to assured, regular, quality service.
Strengthens Panchayats and community ownership in water management, advancing decentralisation.
Tap water at home reduces the time women spend fetching water and lowers waterborne disease.
Cuts across health, gender and rural development goals, and supports SDG 6.
Shifts focus from building taps to assured service delivery, quality and long-term sustainability.
Gram Panchayat-led management gives local bodies ownership of water assets.
Shifts the Mission from creating tap connections to assured, lasting service delivery.
Gives Gram Panchayats and communities ownership of rural water systems.
Digital IDs enable source-to-tap tracking, real-time monitoring and transparency.
Conditional, milestone-based funding ties central money to State reforms and long-term service delivery.
Shifts focus from building pipes to reliable service delivery, aiming at assured 24x7 rural supply.
Reduces women's drudgery and improves health, with women and girls the main beneficiaries.
Tap water at home cuts the drudgery of fetching water, which falls mostly on women.
Safe supply in arsenic and fluoride areas reduces waterborne disease and health costs.
Community ownership through GPs and VWSCs builds local self-government.

Problems

Gram Panchayats may lack technical skills and funds to run and maintain schemes.
Source sustainability and water quality (contamination) remain concerns even after tap connections.
Water is a State subject, so outcomes depend on State follow-through; summit commitments are not binding.
Weak source sustainability, groundwater depletion and thin local capacity for operation and maintenance can leave connections without water.
Several departments and levels of government must coordinate, and capacity at Gram Panchayat level is uneven.
Source depletion and poor operation and maintenance can undercut tap connections.
Sustaining sources and keeping schemes functional after tap connections are installed.
Ensuring water quality and community capacity to operate and maintain systems.
Difficult terrain, forest clearances and NoCs delay pipelines (Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh).
Source sustainability and lack of perennial sources, as in Tamil Nadu, threaten tap functionality.
Water is a State subject, so success depends on State accountability and capacity.
Sustaining source and O&M after handover to Gram Panchayats and VWSCs is difficult.
Operation and maintenance of in-village systems needs funds and capacity at village level.
Quality, accountability and source sustainability must be ensured.
Sustaining O&M depends on user charges and local capacity, which vary across villages (₹40 to ₹100 per household in the villages featured).
Source sustainability and water quality remain at risk without groundwater recharge and regular testing.
Panchayats need funds, skills and the power to levy user charges for operation and maintenance.
Source sustainability, water quality and corruption in works threaten long-term functionality.
Functionality lags coverage: only 76% of connections were functional in 2024, with quality and regularity gaps.
Scarce sources, geogenic contamination, difficult terrain, limited technical capacity and rising costs slow delivery.
Local bodies may lack technical skills and funds to run and maintain schemes.
Source sustainability and water quality (arsenic, fluoride) need continuous monitoring.
Weak capacity and finances of Gram Panchayats to run and maintain schemes.
Source sustainability and water quality, especially in water-scarce and varied hydro-geological areas.
Water is a State subject, so delivery depends on State capacity and accountability; delays have arisen from technical shortcomings.
Oversized or non-compliant works raise costs, and States must bear that expenditure.
Sustaining operation and maintenance and source sustainability after handover, with weak Gram Panchayat finances and capacity.
Last-mile coverage of the remaining households and ensuring water quality and State-wise delivery.
Water source sustainability and groundwater depletion threaten long-term supply.
Reported connections may not mean regular, quality-assured supply; functionality must be checked.
Weak capacity of Gram Panchayats for operation, maintenance and tariff collection; Central outlay is almost used up.

Way forward

Train and fund VWSCs, with user charges for operation and maintenance.
Strengthen source recharge and regular quality testing, with women-led surveillance.
Set time-bound, monitored targets for agreed action points, with digital monitoring and regular review.
Strengthen Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees with funds, training and tariff support for asset management.
Build Gram Panchayat capacity for planning, water budgeting and asset upkeep.
Use geo-tagged data to monitor assets and check that convergent works are completed.
Strengthen source sustainability through groundwater recharge and rainwater harvesting.
Build Gram Panchayat and VWSC capacity, with regular water quality testing and surveillance.
Notify State O&M policies and certify Panchayats as capable institutions.
Invest in spring rejuvenation, rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and community water quality monitoring.
Build Gram Panchayat and VWSC capacity for O&M and tariff or financing arrangements.
Use Sujalam Bharat data and Jal Seva Aankalan feedback to monitor and fix service gaps.
Link JJM with MGNREGA and conservation works to strengthen water sources.
Enforce accountability measures in the MoUs and build local capacity.
Ensure Gram Panchayats and VWSCs are trained and funded to run schemes, with defined performance standards.
Link supply with source protection, rainwater harvesting, grey water reuse and aquifer recharge, backed by technology-based monitoring.
Build Panchayat capacity and allow user charges with support for poor households.
Strengthen source recharge, quality testing and third-party audit of assets.
Shift to O&M and sustainability through community ownership (Jan Bhagidhari, Jal Arpan) and State MoUs.
Strengthen source sustainability, monitoring through IoT sensors and dashboards, and local skills such as Nal Jal Mitra.
Build GP capacity and skilling, and ensure sound operational and financial models such as user charges.
Use digital tools like DSS and citizen feedback to track service delivery and source health.
Train and fund GPs and VWSCs, and set up service utility arrangements.
Use digital tools like the DSS and citizen feedback to track quality and sources.
Strengthen Gram Panchayat-led O&M, source sustainability and recharge, and community oversight.
Enforce technical specifications, financial reconciliation and quality checks through the State MoUs.
Strengthen GPs and VWSCs with training, tariff or user-charge systems and funds for upkeep.
Use digital mapping and monitoring for accountability, and converge with groundwater recharge and source-sustainability programmes.
Strengthen source recharge by converging with watershed, MGNREGA-type and Finance Commission funds.
Train and pay local operators such as Nal Jal Mitras and enforce independent quality testing with public data.
Secure enhanced funding for extension to 2028 and link it to service-delivery outcomes.

Put in your answer

JJM coverage: Over 15.96 crore rural households (82%+) have tap connections.

Geotagging: 2,691 water supply assets, including around 700 sources, were geotagged on the day.

Departmental Summit as cooperative federalism example: A new Centre-State platform where States present action plans to the Prime Minister, for answers on cooperative federalism and governance.

Community-led water governance: Discussions cover asset management and strengthening community-led water governance, useful for answers on decentralised service delivery.

Convergence tools: Geo-tagging on the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack and geospatial planning tools such as Yuktdhara are named for convergent planning.

Local planning example: Viksit Gram Panchayat Plans are the unit for integrated planning of water security.

Community role: Gram Panchayats, VWSCs and Self-Help Groups are meant to manage and sustain rural water supply assets.

Reform-linked MoUs: Use as an example of cooperative federalism tied to governance reforms and community ownership.

Arunachal catchment law: Arunachal Pradesh has an Act for protection and management of drinking water catchment areas, with community participation.

Compliance-linked release: ₹1,561.53 crore went to five States, the first performance-based, compliance-linked release.

Extended timeline: JJM deadline extended from May 2024 to December 2028.

Meghalaya example: Meghalaya, once among the lowest in rural tap coverage, reached 83.59% coverage.

Community-managed example: Tepla village in Ambala collects ₹40 per household per month as user charges for operation and maintenance.

Reform-linked MoU: Centre-State MoUs tie JJM 2.0 to Panchayat-led O&M reforms, an example of cooperative federalism.

Jan Bhagidari: The MoU seeks stronger community participation (Jan Bhagidari) for sustainable operation and maintenance of rural water supply.

Functionality gap: The 2024 assessment found 76% of tap connections functional on quantity, quality and regularity.

Health benefit claim: The Minister cited a WHO study that universal household tap water could prevent close to 4 lakh diarrhoeal deaths annually.

Reform-linked federal model: The MoU ties Centre-State cooperation to 11 structural reforms, an example of conditional cooperative federalism.

Community model: The MoU mandates a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based, community-centred model of rural water governance.

Cooperative federalism example: State-specific MoUs with conditional, milestone-based central funding show how the Centre links funds to reforms.

WHO health estimate: WHO estimated 5.5 crore hours saved daily for women and 400,000 diarrhoeal deaths prevented.

Jal Arpan handbook: A 15-day trial run with GP and VWSC members precedes handover of schemes, supported by dashboards and Jal Seva Ankalan.

Test yourselfMains

True or false?

1 of 56

Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.

1.Jal Arpan involves the formal handover of completed rural water supply schemes to Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees.
2.The Jal Arpan digital module was developed by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
3.Under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, Sujalam Bharat is used for geotagging of rural water supply assets.
4.Water quality testing demonstrations during Jal Arpan used Field Test Kits.
5.Jal Jeevan Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development.
6.Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in 2014 to provide tap water to every rural household.
7.The Jal Arpan module now provides Har Ghar Jal certificates only in Hindi and English.
8.Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in August 2019 and is implemented by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
9.JJM 2.0 shifts the mission from an infrastructure-centric approach to a service delivery model.
10.Under JJM 2.0, States can receive funds without signing any MoU, as long as the schemes are completed.
11.Schemes are validated against the Sujalam Bharat GIS-linked Asset Registry before funds are released to States.
12.Jal Utsav is organised in three tiers, with Lok Jal Utsav held at the State level.
13.Meghalaya is the twelfth State to sign a Reform-Linked MoU under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.
14.Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 was approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2026.
15.The Cabinet has approved an additional outlay of ₹1.51 lakh crore for the Mission.
16.Under the reform-linked MoU, District Water Sanitation Missions are headed by the State Water Resources Secretary.
17.Jal Jeevan Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti through its Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
18.Jal Jeevan Mission has been extended till December 2028 with the approval of the Cabinet.
19.Jal Mahotsav 2026 was a 15-day campaign running from International Women's Day to World Water Day.
20.JJM 2.0 aims to move from a service-delivery approach to an infrastructure-creation approach.
21.The Guidelines say source sustainability is secondary to service delivery, so convergence on water conservation is optional.
22.The Union Cabinet approved Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 on 10 March 2026.
23.Under JJM 2.0 the Mission period has been extended up to December 2028.
24.The reform-linked MoU mandates a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based model of rural water governance.
25.Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in 2019.
26.The MoUs under JJM 2.0 were signed with Gujarat, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Goa.
27.Jal Jeevan Mission has been implemented since August 2019 by the Centre in partnership with States.
28.At the start of the Mission, about half of rural households had tap water connections.
29.Under JJM, responsibility for operation and maintenance of drinking water schemes lies with the State/UT governments.
30.The functionality assessment of tap connections under JJM is carried out by an independent third-party agency selected on standard statistical sampling.
31.The 2024 Functionality Assessment judged tap connections functional on quantity, quality and regularity, and found about 76% functional.
32.Jal Jeevan Mission is administered by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
33.Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 was approved by the Union Cabinet on 10 March 2026.
34.The reform-linked MoU signed by Uttar Pradesh covers 11 key structural reform areas.
35.Under the MoU, completed piped water schemes are to be handed over to Gram Panchayats or Village Water and Sanitation Committees through the Jal Arpan process.
36.The Decision Support System platform under the MoU was developed by the NITI Aayog for planning at district and GP levels.
37.Jal Utsav is a two-tier annual campaign held only at the national and State levels.
38.Jal Jeevan Mission has been extended till December 2028 with an enhanced outlay.
39.Under the MoU, completed piped water supply schemes are to be handed over to Gram Panchayats and VWSCs through the Jal Arpan process.
40.The Decision Support System platform was developed by the Ministry of Rural Development.
41.Jal Utsav includes Lok Jal Utsav at the Gram Panchayat level.
42.Jal Jeevan Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti through the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
43.Jal Seva Aankalan is a Union-level audit carried out by the Ministry, with results published on the Jal Shakti portal.
44.The Jal Jeevan Mission has been extended up to December 2028 under JJM 2.0.
45.A Gram Panchayat may declare itself 'Har Ghar Jal' as soon as pipelines are laid, without any check on maintenance arrangements.
46.The central assistance approved for JJM has been raised from Rs 2.08 lakh crore to Rs 3.59 lakh crore.
47.Jal Utsav is a biennial event led by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to inaugurate new schemes.
48.In 2019, about 17 per cent of rural households had tap water connections, the baseline for JJM.
49.Jal Jeevan Mission is implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
50.Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in August 2019 to provide potable water to every rural household.
51.Under JJM, Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees plan, implement, operate and maintain in-village water supply systems.
52.Under JJM, the benchmark for quality of piped water is the standard set by the World Health Organization.
53.States and UTs may use up to 2% of their annual JJM allocation for water quality monitoring and surveillance.
54.Under Jal Arpan, the handbook on community-managed piped water systems mandates a 15-day trial run involving GPs and VWSC members before handover.
55.Since drinking water is a Union subject, the Centre alone funds and builds JJM schemes.
56.Community water purification plants under JJM are meant as an interim measure in arsenic and fluoride affected habitations until compliant piped schemes are commissioned.

Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Jal Shakti, 22 Mar, 15:34 IST · Release 286545

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Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Economy

Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks auctions

GS3 Economy / MiningPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 22 March 2026 the Ministry of Mines announced that the 7th Tranche of Auction of Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks will be launched on 23 March 2026. It offers 19 blocks under Mining Lease and Composite Licence.
What it is: The Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks auctions are tranche-wise e-auctions of mineral blocks run by the Ministry of Mines with State governments. They aim to build domestic supply of minerals needed for clean energy, electronics and defence, and to cut import dependence. Blocks are offered as Composite Licences (exploration plus mining) or Mining Leases.

Tranche size: The 8th Tranche has 20 mineral blocks: 17 Composite Licence blocks and 3 Mining Lease blocks, across nine States.
Auction record so far: 88 critical and strategic mineral blocks have been offered, and 56 have been successfully auctioned.
Minerals on offer: Blocks include graphite, rare earth elements, vanadium, gallium, titanium, molybdenum, tungsten, potash, phosphorite and glauconite.
Exploration support: The NMEDT scheme partially reimburses exploration expenses of Composite Licence holders.
Unified Mining Portal: The portal is meant to ease doing business and coordinate Centre and States for faster approvals and operationalisation.
Legal basis: Auctions of mineral blocks are conducted under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, as amended in 2015 and 2023.
Size of the eighth tranche: 20 blocks are on offer: 13 newly identified and 7 under the Second Attempt.
Cumulative progress: Across all tranches, 88 critical mineral blocks have been offered and 56 auctioned so far, as stated by the Ministry's Secretary.
Auction method: Online two-stage ascending forward auction. The preferred bidder is the one quoting the highest percentage of the value of mineral dispatched.
Total auctioned: 56 critical and strategic mineral blocks have been auctioned out of 88 unique blocks taken up by the Centre, a success rate of over 63%.
Seventh Tranche: The NIT was issued on 23 March 2026 offering 19 blocks. Ten were auctioned, with first-time blocks in Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Telangana.
Exploration Licence: The second EL tranche extended the framework to Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha for the first time. Cumulative EL blocks auctioned by the Centre are 11.
Minerals in tranche: The Seventh Tranche included graphite, rare earth elements, vanadium, titanium, glauconite and rock phosphate.
Who gets the revenue: Auction revenue goes to the State Governments where the blocks lie, even though the Centre conducts the auction.
Insurance Surety Bond: The Mineral (Auction) Amendment Rules, 2026 allow an Insurance Surety Bond as an alternative to bank guarantees.
Post-auction timelines: The Mineral (Auction) Second Amendment Rules, 2025 streamlined the timelines for performance security, upfront payment and Letter of Intent.

Don’t confuse with Composite Licence vs Mining Lease: A Composite Licence covers both exploration (prospecting) and mining; a Mining Lease is for mining in an already explored block.

Don’t confuse with NMET vs NMEDT: The National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) funds exploration; the release names the NMEDT scheme for partial reimbursement of exploration costs for Composite Licence holders. Check the exact name when it is asked.

Don’t confuse with Exploration Licence vs Composite Licence: An Exploration Licence is for exploration of critical and deep-seated minerals. A Composite Licence covers both exploration and mining in one grant.

Don’t confuse with Mining Lease vs Composite Licence: A Mining Lease allows mining of a block that is already explored. A Composite Licence covers exploration first and then mining in one grant.

Don’t confuse with Forward vs reverse auction: In a forward auction, bidders compete upward, as here on the percentage of value of mineral dispatched. In a reverse auction, bidders compete downward on price.

Economy terms and data: 42 Prelims questions since 2013, rising in recent years; they test what a term or instrument means. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.

Why it matters

Builds domestic supply of minerals for clean energy, electronics and strategic industries, reducing import dependence.
Brings in private investment and State participation through transparent e-auctions.
Builds domestic supply of minerals for clean energy, electronics and defence, cutting import dependence.
Draws private investment and brings in State revenue through auction premiums.
Builds domestic supply of minerals needed for clean energy, electronics and defence, cutting import dependence.
Opens new states to exploration and draws private and public sector participation.
Builds domestic supply of minerals for clean energy, electronics and defence, and cuts import dependence.
Gives States revenue and draws private investment into exploration and mining.

Problems

Many auctioned blocks are slow to start production; 32 of the 88 offered blocks were not auctioned.
Moving from mining to processing and refining needs technology and supply chain capacity.
Many blocks go unsold, so a Second Attempt is needed: 56 of 88 auctioned.
Exploration risk, environmental and forest clearances, and local community concerns can delay mining.
Only about 63% of blocks offered found bidders, so some blocks stay unsold.
Auctioning a block does not ensure quick production, since clearances, exploration risk and processing capacity remain hurdles.
Limited availability and geographical concentration of critical minerals make supply chains fragile.
Blocks can stay unoperationalised because of delays in clearances, so auctions may not turn into output.

Way forward

Speed up clearances through the Unified Mining Portal and regular Centre-State reviews.
Link exploration support and auctions to processing, refining and value addition.
Do more exploration so that blocks come with better data and draw more bids.
Pair mining with processing, refining and recycling to build the full value chain.
Strengthen exploration data, and processing and refining capacity along with auctions.
Speed up clearances and give states a clear role, in line with the National Critical Mineral Mission.
Speed up post-auction approvals and keep simplifying auction rules.
Pair auctions with exploration, processing and recycling capacity.

Put in your answer

Value chain push: Officials stress moving beyond mining to processing, refining and value addition for resilient supply chains.

Auction progress: 88 critical mineral blocks offered across tranches, 56 auctioned: a data point on the reform's uptake and its limits.

Rare metal block: A West Bengal block offers lithium, cesium and rubidium, relevant to battery supply chains.

National Critical Mineral Mission: The auctions are cited as supporting the National Critical Mineral Mission's aim of cutting import dependence and building a pipeline of assets.

MMDR Act amendment, 2023: The amendment notified 24 critical and strategic minerals and enabled Central auctions of their leases and licences.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting topic: MMDR 2023 amendment notified 24 critical minerals; seventh tranche has 19 blocks. Auction tranche news alone is unlikely to be asked.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Mines, 22 Mar, 11:49 IST · Release 286541

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Scheme

District Mineral Foundation (DMF)

GS3 Mining and Resource GovernanceGS2 Welfare schemesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: The Ministry of Mines will hold the National DMF Summit 2026 on 23–24 March 2026 at SCOPE Convention Centre, New Delhi, on using District Mineral Funds in Aspirational District and Block areas.
What it is: The District Mineral Foundation is a non-profit trust set up in each mining district to work for the benefit of people and areas affected by mining. It was brought in by the 2015 amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Mining leaseholders pay it a share of royalty, and the money is spent mainly on priority areas such as drinking water, health and education.

Event and dates: The National DMF Summit 2026 runs for two days, 23–24 March 2026, in New Delhi, organised by the Ministry of Mines.
Theme: The Summit's theme is effective use of district mineral funds in ADP/ABP areas.
Districts covered: A concept note went to DMF States, 306 DMF districts in ADP/ABP areas and NITI Aayog in January 2026.
Focus areas: The Summit looks at governance, transparency, convergence, impact assessment and performance of fund use.
Legal basis: DMFs were created through the MMDR Amendment Act, 2015, as non-profit bodies in districts affected by mining.
Funding: Leaseholders contribute to the DMF a percentage of royalty, set by the Act at 30% for mining leases granted after 12 January 2015 and 10% for earlier leases.

Don’t confuse with DMF vs PMKKKY: The DMF is the trust in each district that holds the money. Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) is the scheme that guides how DMF funds are spent.

Don’t confuse with ADP vs ABP: The Aspirational Districts Programme covers backward districts. The Aspirational Blocks Programme covers backward blocks within districts.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting funding body for mining-affected areas; today's news is only a summit, so no question likely.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Mines, 22 Mar, 12:20 IST · Release 286543

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.

International relations

Informal Group of Ministers on West Asia

GS2 International RelationsGS3 Energy securityPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 22 March 2026 the Petroleum Ministry issued an update on India's response to the West Asia crisis. It covered LPG, PNG, shipping and Indian nationals, after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
What it is: The Informal Group of Ministers on West Asia is a ministerial panel set up to monitor the evolving West Asia situation and suggest proactive measures to minimise its impact on India. It is chaired by the Defence Minister and draws in ministers of finance, petroleum, external affairs, power, fertilizers, food and others. It works with seven Empowered Groups of Secretaries that brief it on steps being taken.

Chair and purpose: The IGoM is chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. It monitors West Asia developments and suggests measures to keep the impact on India minimal.
Supporting machinery: Seven Empowered Groups of Secretaries briefed the IGoM on the steps being taken.
Customs relief: Full customs duty exemption on 40 critical petrochemical products was notified, valid till June 30, 2026.
Inter-ministerial group: The PM said an inter-ministerial group meets daily to assess import and export difficulties and work out solutions.
Strait of Hormuz: India imports large quantities of crude oil, gas and fertilizers through the Strait of Hormuz, and shipping there has become highly challenging.
Indians in the Gulf: Nearly ten million Indians live and work in the Gulf countries.
Strategic petroleum reserve: India has a strategic petroleum reserve of over 5.3 million metric tonnes, to be expanded to over 6.5 million metric tonnes.
India's position: India opposes attacks on civilians, energy and transport infrastructure, and says dialogue and diplomacy are the only solution.
Cause of supply stress: The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is the reason for the steps on petroleum products and LPG.
Legal powers against hoarding: States can act against hoarding and black marketing under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the LPG Control Order, 2000.
Seafarers in the Gulf: 22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf, monitored by DG Shipping.
Return of Indians: Over 3,50,000 passengers have returned to India from the region since 28 February.
LPG exposure: India imports about 60% of its LPG consumption, and about 90% of these imports pass through Hormuz.
Natural Gas Control Order: Issued on 9 March 2026 under the Essential Commodities Act to manage gas supply and protect priority sectors. Domestic PNG and CNG get full supply.
LPG demand management: The minimum gap between LPG bookings was raised from 21 to 25 days. Domestic LPG output rose about 25% after refineries were told to maximise LPG.
Seafarers and diaspora: 28 Indian-flagged vessels are in the Persian Gulf region. About one crore Indians live in GCC countries.
Who met: The Cabinet Committee on Security met under the Prime Minister's chairmanship to review the West Asia situation.
Trigger: The CCS was briefed on air strikes in Iran on 28 February and the escalation that followed, including attacks in Gulf countries.
Main concern: The Committee expressed serious concern over the safety and security of the large Indian expatriate community in the region.
Direction given: All concerned departments were told to take necessary and feasible measures to assist affected Indian nationals.
India's stance: The CCS stressed early cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue and diplomacy.

Don’t confuse with IGoM vs GoM: An informal group of ministers is set up by executive decision for coordination and has no statutory or constitutional status. Empowered Groups of Secretaries are bureaucratic bodies that brief it.

Don’t confuse with Strait of Hormuz vs Bab-el-Mandeb: Hormuz links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. Bab-el-Mandeb links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

Don’t confuse with PNG vs LPG: PNG is piped natural gas supplied through city gas distribution networks. LPG is bottled liquefied petroleum gas.

Don’t confuse with PNG/CNG vs LPG: PNG and CNG are natural gas, mainly methane. LPG is propane and butane from refining and gas processing.

International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.

Why it matters

Coordinated ministerial oversight lets India respond quickly to energy, trade and price shocks from a distant conflict.
Covering fuel, fertilizer, food and finance in one forum reflects India's exposure to West Asia through energy imports and trade.
Gulf supplies much of India's crude oil and gas, so the conflict directly affects energy security.
Nearly ten million Indians in the Gulf make evacuation, remittances and welfare a core concern.
Shows how a chokepoint closure threatens India's energy security, given its import dependence.
Coordinates Centre and States on supply, enforcement and citizen safety.
Shows India's exposure to a single chokepoint for crude, LNG and LPG.
Diversified crude buying across about 40 countries cushions supply shocks.
Tests crisis coordination across ministries and States, including diaspora protection.
Shows the government treating the West Asia crisis as a security and economic issue, not only a diplomatic one.
Large Indian diaspora in the Gulf makes evacuation and welfare of nationals a central concern.

Problems

Supply panic, hoarding and black marketing, such as in LPG, can create shortages even when stocks are adequate.
Misinformation on social media can fuel panic and complicate management.
Disrupted shipping through Hormuz threatens oil, LPG and fertilizer supplies and raises prices.
Dependence on imports for LPG and fertilizers exposes households and farmers to shocks.
LPG supply remains a concern, with panic buying and hoarding.
States differ in implementation: 17 States/UTs had yet to issue kerosene allocation orders.
Heavy LPG and LNG dependence on Hormuz cannot be shifted quickly.
Rationing gas hurts fertiliser and industry output, and price rises hurt households.
Panic buying and hoarding strain distribution; seafarers and about one crore Gulf Indians face risk.
Safety of Indian expatriates and disruption to travellers and students in the region.
Wider effects on regional security and on economic and commercial activity.

Way forward

Build medium to long-term preparedness, including diversified energy sources and alternatives like PNG.
Enforce action against hoarding and communicate through official sources.
Diversify energy and fertilizer sources and expand strategic reserves.
Speed up renewables, ethanol blending and electric mobility while pursuing diplomacy for safe passage.
Speed up PNG and city gas network expansion by clearing approvals quickly.
Build supply diversification and reserves to cut exposure to a single chokepoint.
Build strategic reserves of crude, LPG and gas, and add import routes.
Raise domestic output and speed up the shift to alternative fuels.
Keep Gulf diplomacy active and prepare evacuation and shipping-safety plans.
Coordinate departments for assistance to affected Indian nationals.
Press for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy.

Put in your answer

LPG supply measures: Domestic LPG output was raised to meet consumption, with raids against hoarding and black marketing. Over 80% of pre-crisis commercial LPG supply was maintained.

Renewable capacity: Renewable capacity has crossed 250 GW, about half of installed capacity.

Demand and supply rationalisation: The LPG booking interval was raised from 21 to 25 days in urban areas and up to 45 days in rural areas.

Diaspora in GCC: About one crore Indians live in GCC countries, making their safety central to India's policy.

LPG subsidy support: Government approved ₹30,000 crore compensation to oil marketing companies for LPG under-recoveries.

Government's response: The CCS reviewed difficulties of Indian travellers and students and the implications for regional security and economic activity.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, 22 Mar, 16:12 IST · Release 286548

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Scheme

DISHA Scheme and Tele-Law

GS2 Justice and Welfare SchemesGS2 JudiciaryPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 22 March 2026, the Department of Justice held a regional workshop on the Tele-Law programme under the DISHA Scheme at Kurukshetra University, Haryana. A DISHA Awareness Van was flagged off and two e-books on North-East tribal customary laws were launched.
What it is: DISHA (Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice) is a scheme of the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice. It brings together Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu pro bono services and legal literacy and awareness programmes. Its aim is to give legal help to people in remote and underserved areas, in line with Article 39A.

Components of DISHA: DISHA joins Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu (pro bono legal services) and Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness programmes.
Tele-Law delivery channels: Pre-litigation legal advice is given through Common Service Centres, the Tele-Law mobile app and toll-free helpline 14454.
Tele-Law's start and spread in Haryana: Tele-Law began in the Aspirational District of Nuh (Mewat) with 317 CSCs. 6,197 CSCs now serve all districts of Haryana.
Nyaya Bandhu reach: Over 10,000 advocates are registered, with Pro Bono Clubs in 109 law colleges as of February 2026.
Outlay and period: DISHA has an outlay of Rs 250 crore for five years, 2021-2026, as a Central Sector Scheme.
Tele-Law: Tele-Law gives free pre-litigation advice through video and phone at Common Service Centres, a mobile app and toll-free helpline 14454.
Nyaya Bandhu: Pro bono advocates are connected through the Nyaya Bandhu app to beneficiaries entitled to free legal aid under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
Nyaya Sahayaks: Nyaya Sahayaks have been engaged since 2024 for door-to-door pre-litigation help in 500 Aspirational Blocks.
Lok Adalat award: Under the LSA Act, a Lok Adalat award is deemed a civil court decree, final and binding, with no appeal.

Don’t confuse with DISHA scheme vs NALSA legal services: DISHA is a Department of Justice scheme for tech-enabled access, pro bono and awareness. NALSA and SLSAs are statutory bodies under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 that give free legal aid; they supported the workshop.

Don’t confuse with Article 39A vs Article 21: Article 39A is a Directive Principle on equal justice and free legal aid. Article 21 is a Fundamental Right to life and liberty, which courts have read to include access to justice.

Don’t confuse with DISHA vs NALSA: DISHA is a Department of Justice scheme; NALSA is a statutory body under the LSA Act, 1987 that runs legal aid through State and District Legal Services Authorities.

Don’t confuse with LADCS vs Nyaya Bandhu: LADCS uses full-time paid defence counsels in criminal courts; Nyaya Bandhu connects volunteer pro bono advocates to beneficiaries.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

Test yourself

Source: PIB, Ministry of Law & Justice, 22 Mar, 20:10 IST · Release 286550

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Quick facts

Exercise Lamitiye 2026 between India and Seychelles had its first tri-services edition, with INS Trikand joining for the Navy's first time.
PM Modi passed Pawan Kumar Chamling's 8,930-day record to become India's longest-serving head of a government, per Amit Shah.

Source: PIB, 22 Mar

What we left out: 12 of 19 releases

Speeches without a decision (2)
Greetings and tributes (5)
Same issue as another release (3)
Meetings without a decision (1)
Summits and events (1)

Practise the day’s news

In UPSC’s formats, inside each issue. The answer and why come after you choose.

1Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal ArpanMCQ · 56 true or false · Mains
2Informal Group of Ministers on West AsiaMCQ · 9 true or false · Mains
3DISHA Scheme and Tele-LawMCQ · 7 true or false

Mains question of the day

15 marks · 250 words

The Union Cabinet has extended the Jal Jeevan Mission till December 2028, and Operational Guidelines for JJM 2.0 were released on World Water Day 2026, shifting the focus from creating infrastructure to service delivery and sustainability. Examine the key provisions of JJM 2.0 and discuss the challenges in ensuring long-term, reliable rural drinking water supply.

From: Jal Jeevan Mission and Jal Arpan

Write and get it marked

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