The Ministry of Jal Shakti will convene the inaugural Departmental Summit on 1-2 September 2026 in New Delhi. This gathering brings together federal and state leadership to coordinate on water management priorities under the Prime Minister’s cooperative federalism framework. The summit marks the first in a planned series of such departmental meetings aimed at strengthening Centre-State collaboration.
What the Summit will cover
The two-day event at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan will examine four main areas:
- Accelerating completion of water infrastructure projects
- Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari-Catch the Rain programme for water conservation and rainwater harvesting
- Protecting sources of drinking water systems
- Running and maintaining rural drinking water supply schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0
Discussions will span project timelines, coordination between agencies, groundwater recharge efforts, digital monitoring systems, asset management, and community participation in water governance. State governments will present their experiences, obstacles faced and successful practices. They will also share agreed action plans before the Prime Minister during the closing session.
The Ministry expects the summit to produce concrete results: faster project completion, greater citizen involvement in water conservation, more stable drinking water sources, and better accountability for reliable rural water supply services.
What this means for you
If you live in a rural area, this summit could affect how quickly your region receives reliable piped water supply and how well water systems are maintained. The focus on source sustainability means your drinking water sources may be better protected through rainwater harvesting and groundwater management. States will be expected to act on agreed timelines, creating measurable accountability for water service delivery. Urban residents may see increased emphasis on water conservation through the Catch the Rain initiative implemented at state level.