New Delhi: Union Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Patil has launched the Sujalam Bharat App, a major digital initiative aimed at transforming rural drinking water governance across the country.
The app has been developed with technical support from the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics and is designed to provide real-time, comprehensive information on rural water supply systems under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Speaking at the launch, the minister said the initiative marks a significant step toward improving transparency and strengthening community ownership of rural drinking water infrastructure. He described the platform as a key tool to empower citizens and institutions with accurate and timely data.
Nationwide participation and policy focus
The launch event saw online participation from representatives of all states and union territories, highlighting a shared commitment to improving water governance. Secretary of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ashok K.K. Meena, stressed the importance of timely data integration and structured adoption of the Sujalam Bharat platform by states and UTs to ensure its effectiveness.
He urged state officials to treat the platform as a core operational system rather than a parallel reporting mechanism.
Technology and system architecture
BISAG-N Director General T.P. Singh presented the technological framework of the Sujalam Bharat App and Database. He explained that the unified digital system will help states and districts adopt a structured approach to the operation and maintenance of rural water supply schemes.
The platform uses advanced geo-referencing to map water infrastructure, enabling better monitoring, planning, and management. Integration with PM Gati Shakti GIS will provide updated geospatial mapping of rural water networks, supporting future expansion and repair work with greater accuracy.
Sujal Gaon ID and digital registry
A key feature of the initiative is the operationalisation of the Sujalam Bharat Database. Each water supply scheme and its service area will be assigned a unique Sujalam Bharat–Sujal Gaon ID. This digital identifier will clearly link each habitation to the scheme supplying water to it.
Every village will have a digital profile detailing its drinking water source, infrastructure condition, supply reliability, water quality status, and operation and maintenance arrangements. The database will also store historical records of infrastructure condition, maintenance activities, and service-level performance.
Training and capacity building
Following the launch, BISAG-N conducted a detailed training and orientation session for officials from all states and union territories. The session focused on operational use of the app, geo-referencing procedures, and integration of rural water assets onto the platform. The hands-on guidance is expected to support smooth adoption and stronger on-ground implementation.
Transparency and community oversight
The platform brings together data on water sources, asset inventories, scheme designs, operational records, water quality reports, supply metrics, and community feedback in one place. This integrated approach is expected to improve transparency in the performance of Gram Panchayats, Village Water and Sanitation Committees, and service providers, while encouraging greater community participation and oversight.
Way forward
In his closing remarks, AS&MD, National Jal Jeevan Mission, Kamal Kishore Soan called the initiative a crucial step in strengthening the digital backbone of the mission. He urged states and UTs to prepare clear action plans and ensure timely data submission to avoid implementation bottlenecks.
The Sujalam Bharat App, to be available soon on the Google Play Store, is being positioned as the identity system for rural water management, much like Aadhaar for citizens, laying the foundation for a transparent, accountable, and citizen-centric water service delivery framework.
