Status of Drinking Water and Sanitation in rural India
Distilled Policy Brief
- Under the Constitution, supply of water and sanitation are state subjects, with the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation coordinating policy planning, funding, and key programs like SBM-G and NRDWP in rural areas.
- Between 2009-10 and 2018-19, the Ministry's budgetary priority shifted, with the share allocated to drinking water falling from 87% to 31%, while rural sanitation's share increased from 13% to 69%.
- While SBM-G guidelines mandate that 8% of earmarked funds should be utilised for Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities to drive behavioural change, actual spending has stayed in the 1%-4% range.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
Under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, water supply and sanitation are State subjects, while central ministries coordinate policy planning, funding, and target guidelines for rural areas.
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
Analyze the operational and financial challenges in delivering rural sanitation and drinking water infrastructure in India, focusing on IEC fund underutilization and groundwater contamination.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to the institutional framework and funding for rural water supply and sanitation in India, consider the following statements: 1. Under the Constitution of India, both water supply and sanitation are classified as State subjects. 2. Between 2009-10 and 2018-19, the share of budgetary allocations towards drinking water increased, while the share for rural sanitation declined. 3. While Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) guidelines mandate that 8% of earmarked funds be spent on Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities, actual spending has consistently lagged behind this target. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- [A] 1 and 2 only
- [B] 2 and 3 only
- [C] 1 and 3 only
- [D] 1, 2 and 3
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Statements 1 and 3 are correct: Water supply and sanitation are State subjects under the Constitution, and while SBM-G mandates an 8% allocation for IEC activities to drive behavioral change, actual spending has hovered around 1% to 4%. Statement 2 is incorrect because the budgetary priority shifted in the opposite direction; the share allocated to drinking water fell from 87% to 31%, while rural sanitation's share rose from 13% to 69%.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.