Centre and the States of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha signed reform linked memoranda of understanding under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, committing to a structured framework for sustainable, transparent and community-led rural drinking water service delivery. The agreements emphasise accountable governance and strengthened community participation to support long term service provision. The partnership was presented as part of the national effort to extend reliable household tap connections and institutionalise operation and maintenance systems.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Jal Shakti and state administrations attended the signing, with the Union Minister and state leaders participating in person and virtually. For Andhra Pradesh the MoU was exchanged between the Joint Secretary (Water) and the Special Chief Secretary to the state. The Odisha agreement was signed by the Joint Secretary (Water) and the Commissioner cum Secretary of the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department.

The mission under JJM 2.0 will focus on addressing gaps in existing infrastructure, covering remaining households and ensuring sustainable and reliable water supply systems. The Union Ministry highlighted the importance of formal handover of completed schemes to communities and strengthening community-led water management to ensure effective operation and maintenance. The mission has already freed nearly 90 million (mn) women from the burden of fetching water and will prioritise women's empowerment through training in water quality testing using field test kits.

Odisha has moved to strengthen digital integration by registering water supply assets on the Sujal Bharat platform and assigning unique Sujal Gram IDs to enhance monitoring, transparency and accountability. The State has also expanded citizen centric services with a dedicated helpline and messaging interfaces and is promoting Jan Bhagidari through Village Water and Sanitation Committees. The reform linked MoUs seek to ensure that every rural household has access to drinking water in adequate quantity and of prescribed quality on a regular basis, thereby contributing to long term water security and the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.