Rural water systems do not run on infrastructure alone. They run on people, their labour, skills and everyday decisions.
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Published OnJun 2026
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AuthorsDeepak Gupta and Prerna Pandey
BACKGROUND
As India moves from expanding rural water infrastructure to ensuring reliable and sustainable service delivery, digital systems are becoming critical to governance, monitoring, and accountability. This study, undertaken by SPM-NIWAS and Arghyam, examines the digital ecosystems supporting rural drinking water management across the National Jal Jeevan Mission and five states—Assam, Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, and West Bengal.
The report documents existing platforms, digital capabilities, governance practices, and interoperability challenges, while identifying opportunities for a future Drinking Water Digital Public Infrastructure (DW-DPI). It offers insights into how states are using technology today and what is needed to build a more connected, data-driven, and citizen-centric water sector.
