United Nations, November 10 : India’s water management initiatives have emerged as an example for developing countries, with a senior World Bank official praising the country’s efforts to expand access to drinking water, revive rivers and strengthen dam safety.
Saroj Kumar Jha, Global Director for Water at the World Bank Group, described India’s progress as a remarkable success story, saying several developing nations were looking towards India’s experience to address their own water-related challenges.
Speaking during a virtual press briefing ahead of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, Jha said India’s approach to water management offered practical solutions that could be adopted by other countries.
The conference, co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal, will take place in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10. It will bring together world leaders, policymakers and stakeholders to strengthen global cooperation on water security and sanitation.
Highlighting India’s major initiatives, Jha referred to the Jal Jeevan Mission, Namami Gange Programme and Swachh Bharat Mission, describing them as successful examples of large-scale public participation and government-led development.
He particularly praised the Jal Jeevan Mission, stating that providing improved drinking water access to 800 million people in less than seven years was a remarkable achievement.
He said India’s efforts to improve drinking water facilities in both rural and urban areas were unprecedented. He also noted that the programme was evolving, with an increased focus on sustainability, operations and maintenance.
Jha further pointed out that India’s sanitation initiatives were influencing other countries. Citing Nigeria’s ‘Clean Nigeria’ campaign, he said it had drawn inspiration from India’s Swachh Bharat Mission.
He added that developing countries, particularly those in the Global South, were looking at the Jal Jeevan Mission as a model that combines public participation, strong government leadership and adequate financing.
Praising the Namami Gange Programme, the World Bank official said it had made significant progress in reducing pollution and improving the overall health of the Ganga river.
He noted that the World Bank had extended financial support to the National Mission for Clean Ganga through various funding mechanisms.
Emphasising the importance of rivers, Jha said they were not merely water bodies but an integral part of civilisation and human life, supporting livelihoods and communities.
On dam safety, he said World Bank assistance had helped India strengthen the resilience of nearly 900 dams. He also highlighted the establishment of centres of excellence to improve technical expertise and safety standards.
Jha also appreciated India’s initiatives in urban water management, particularly efforts encouraging financially capable municipalities to access capital markets for improving water-related services.
Meanwhile, Stephanie Rambler, Senior Sustainable Development Officer at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, said India was actively participating in preparations for the upcoming conference.
She indicated that India was expected to send a high-level government delegation and organise a special event on ‘river cities’, focusing on water security and resilience.
The 2026 UN Water Conference will feature seven plenary meetings and six interactive dialogues, along with special events aimed at accelerating progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which seeks to ensure clean water and sanitation for everyone.
