AMRUT 2.0 (Water Security)
Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Housing and Sanitation Schemes · Topic 9.7
AMRUT 2.0, or the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0, is a Centrally Sponsored mission of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, launched on 1 October 2021 for five years to 2025-26, to make cities water secure. It aims at tap water in all households of the 4,378 statutory towns, sewerage and septage management in the 500 AMRUT cities, rejuvenation of water bodies and reuse of treated used water. The total outlay is about Rs 2.99 lakh crore, of which the Central share is about Rs 76,760 crore. It follows the first AMRUT of 2015 and uses a Pey Jal Survekshan to rank cities on water services.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Housing and Sanitation Schemes
At a Glance
- Ministry Housing and Urban Affairs
- Launched 1 October 2021
- Period 2021-22 to 2025-26
- Outlay About Rs 2.99 lakh crore
- Targets Tap water in all towns, sewerage in 500 cities
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Housing and Sanitation Schemes
Where Does It Fit?
This is the last topic of the macro on housing and sanitation. It is the urban counterpart of the rural tap water mission and it closes the macro by joining water supply, used water and sanitation in cities. Previous topic: Namami Gange Programme. Next topic: Digital India Programme.
What Are the Targets and Features of AMRUT 2.0?
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launch and ministry | 1 October 2021 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, with the name Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 |
| Water supply | Universal coverage of water supply through functional taps in all households of 4,378 statutory towns, with a target of about 2.68 crore new tap connections |
| Sewerage and septage | Sewerage and septage coverage in the 500 AMRUT cities, with a target of about 2.64 crore sewer connections or equivalent |
| Used water | Reuse of treated used water to meet a fifth of city water demand and 40 per cent of industrial demand, and a cut in non-revenue water to below 20 per cent |
| Water bodies | Rejuvenation of water bodies and creation of green space in the 500 cities |
| Funding | Central share is 90 per cent for North Eastern and hill States, 100 per cent for Union Territories without legislature, 50 per cent for cities under one lakh population, 33 per cent for one to ten lakh and 25 per cent for above ten lakh |
| Pey Jal Survekshan | An annual survey that ranks cities on water supply, used water and reuse, to create competition |
What Is the Progress and Present Status?
- Tap connections: A Lok Sabha reply of February 2026 reported about 2.38 crore household tap connections under AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0 together with convergence with States, as reported
- Sewer coverage: As of November 2025 the Ministry reported about 1.88 crore new or serviced tap connections and about 1.49 crore sewer or septage household coverages. Definitions differ across dates
- Critical report: A report in August 2026 said that only about 30 per cent of urban households in AMRUT cities had a sewerage connection. I could not verify it against the report, so treat it as reported
- Period: The mission period ran to 2025-26. I could not find a notified extension, so check the Ministry for the current status
- Compared with AMRUT 1: The first phase from 2015 covered 500 cities for water supply, sewerage, drainage, transport and green space, as in Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
- Rural side: The rural counterpart is the Jal Jeevan Mission, as in Jal Jeevan Mission (Har Ghar Jal)
What Else Should You Remember?
- Technology sub-mission: A sub-mission on technology to use new methods in water supply and used water treatment and a plan to set up a Water Technology Hub
- Women: Self-help groups are involved in water supply operations and surveys, which improves local ownership
- PPP: Cities with over ten lakh population are asked to take part of their projects in public-private partnership mode
- City water balance plans: Each city prepares a City Water Balance Plan and a Water Action Plan, so that supply and demand are matched
- Non-revenue water: Water lost through leakage and theft is a major problem, as the water that is produced is not billed
- Mission 2.0 versus Smart Cities: Smart Cities ended in 2025, and AMRUT is the continuing urban infrastructure mission, as in Smart Cities Mission
- Finance: Municipal bonds and user charges are meant to help cities pay for operation and maintenance
- Link with sanitation: Used water treatment links directly to the sanitation mission, as in Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban and Gramin)
- Link with rivers: Treatment of used water in cities along rivers supports river programmes, as in Namami Gange Programme
- Concerns: Low capacity of city bodies, poor billing, uneven progress across States, sewers built but not connected to homes
- Way forward: Pricing water, reducing leakage, reusing treated water and strengthening city utilities
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Launch and ministry: 1 October 2021, Housing and Urban Affairs
- Coverage: 4,378 statutory towns for water and 500 cities for sewerage
- Outlay: About Rs 2.99 lakh crore with Central share about Rs 76,760 crore
- Survey: Pey Jal Survekshan
- Common errors: Mixing it with the Jal Jeevan Mission, which is rural
As an analytical point, city water security depends on utilities that can charge fairly, reduce leakage and reuse treated water. Pipes and plants alone will not deliver service without sound finances and trained staff.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Targets Towns and cities covered
- Funding Central share by city size
- Compare JJM and AMRUT 1
What Came Next?
The next macro moves to Digital India and technology schemes, starting with the Digital India Programme. Next topic: Digital India Programme.
Key People and Terms
- AMRUT Urban water and sewerage mission
- Statutory town Town with a municipality or similar body
- NRW Non-revenue water
- Septage Sludge from septic tanks
- Survekshan Ranking survey
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Launched: 1 October 2021.
- Towns: 4,378. Cities: 500.
- Outlay: about Rs 2.99 lakh crore.
- NRW target: below 20 per cent.
- Survey: Pey Jal Survekshan.
Do Not Confuse With
- AMRUT 2.0 and the Jal Jeevan Mission Urban versus rural water supply
- AMRUT 2.0 and AMRUT 1 Water security and used water focus versus a broader basic services list
- AMRUT 2.0 and Smart Cities Mission Water mission continuing versus the area-based mission that closed
Memory Hook
Every town a tap, every big city a sewer, and reuse the treated water.
Mains Angle
Questions ask how cities can secure water. These points give a balanced frame.
- Strengths Universal coverage goal, reuse target and survey ranking
- Weaknesses Weak utilities, poor billing and unconnected sewers
- Way forward Pricing, leakage control, reuse and utility reform
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the objectives of AMRUT 2.0 and examine the institutional and financial challenges that cities face in ensuring water security.”
How to Answer
- Introduce Mission, targets, outlay.
- Features Reuse, survey, funding.
- Challenges Utilities, billing, leakage.
- Way Pricing and utility reform.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AMRUT 2.0?
AMRUT 2.0 is the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0, a Centrally Sponsored mission of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched on 1 October 2021 to make cities water secure. It aims at tap water in all 4,378 statutory towns and sewerage or septage coverage in 500 AMRUT cities.
What is the outlay of AMRUT 2.0?
The total outlay is about Rs 2.99 lakh crore, of which the Central share is about Rs 76,760 crore, for five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26. Central assistance depends on the size of the city, from 25 per cent for the largest cities to 90 per cent for North Eastern and hill States.
Which ministry runs AMRUT 2.0?
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs runs AMRUT 2.0, and States and urban local bodies implement the projects. This is different from the Jal Jeevan Mission, which is run by the Ministry of Jal Shakti for rural households, and from the Smart Cities Mission, which was also under the housing ministry.
What is the Pey Jal Survekshan?
The Pey Jal Survekshan is an annual survey under AMRUT 2.0 that ranks cities on drinking water supply, used water management, reuse of treated water and service quality. Its purpose is to create competition among cities and to check on coverage and performance on the ground through a third-party assessment.
What is the latest status of AMRUT 2.0?
A Lok Sabha reply of February 2026 reported about 2.38 crore household tap connections under AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0 with convergence, and sewer coverage of about 1.49 crore households as of November 2025. The mission period ran to 2025-26, and no extension was found, so check the Ministry.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 AMRUT 2.0 was launched on 1 October 2021.
It is run by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
2 AMRUT 2.0 aims at tap water in all statutory towns.
There are 4,378 such towns.
3 AMRUT 2.0 is a rural water supply scheme.
The rural scheme is Jal Jeevan Mission.
4 The Pey Jal Survekshan ranks cities on water services.
It is an annual survey.
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