UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Reform Linked MoUs signed with Manipur and Bihar under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0

Q1. Under the reform-linked Memoranda of Understanding signed by States/UTs (including Manipur and Bihar) with the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, consider the following commitments: 1. Adoption of a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based and community-centred model of rural water governance. 2. Validation of every water supply scheme against the Sujalam Bharat GIS-linked Asset Registry. 3. Transfer of operation and maintenance of village-level piped water supply schemes from Gram Panchayats to the State Public Health Engineering Department. 4. Fixation of water tariff/user charges by Gram Panchayats with the guiding principle of recovering operation and maintenance costs. Which of the above is/are correctly identified as conditions under the reform-linked MoU?

1. Adoption of a Gram Panchayat-led, service-based and community-centred model of rural water governance.
2. Validation of every water supply scheme against the Sujalam Bharat GIS-linked Asset Registry.
3. Transfer of operation and maintenance of village-level piped water supply schemes from Gram Panchayats to the State Public Health Engineering Department.
4. Fixation of water tariff/user charges by Gram Panchayats with the guiding principle of recovering operation and maintenance costs.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 4 only
• C. 1, 2 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. Under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2026, on the basis of which compliance with structural reforms is mandated for release of central funds, what is the total Central share (in ₹ lakh crore) of the enhanced outlay?

• A. ₹1.51 lakh crore
• B. ₹2.08 lakh crore
• C. ₹3.59 lakh crore
• D. ₹8.69 lakh crore

Q3. Under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2026, what is the total enhanced outlay of the mission (in ₹ lakh crore) up to December 2028?

• A. 2.08
• B. 3.59
• C. 8.69
• D. 1.51

Q4. Which one of the following is the nodal Union department that operationalises Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 and signs the reform-linked MoUs with State Governments?

• A. Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti
• B. Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti
• C. Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development
• D. Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development

Q5. With reference to the original Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) launched in 2019, consider the following statements: 1. It was launched in August 2019 with the original target of providing Functional Household Tap Connections to all rural households by the year 2024. 2. Under the mission, a Functional Household Tap Connection means the supply of potable water of prescribed quality at a service level of at least 55 litres per capita per day on a regular basis. 3. At the time of its launch in 2019, every rural household in India already had access to piped tap water supply, and the mission was confined to upgrading the quality of existing connections. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. It was launched in August 2019 with the original target of providing Functional Household Tap Connections to all rural households by the year 2024.
2. Under the mission, a Functional Household Tap Connection means the supply of potable water of prescribed quality at a service level of at least 55 litres per capita per day on a regular basis.
3. At the time of its launch in 2019, every rural household in India already had access to piped tap water supply, and the mission was confined to upgrading the quality of existing connections.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Which one of the following is the nodal Union-level department primarily responsible for the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission?

• A. Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti
• B. Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti
• C. Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development
• D. Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development

Q7. At the State level, the State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM), which is the apex body for implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, is chaired by which one of the following?

• A. The Chief Minister of the State
• B. The Chief Secretary of the State
• C. The Principal Secretary of the State's Public Health Engineering Department
• D. The State Mission Director of the National Jal Jeevan Mission

Q8. With reference to the Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC)/Pani Samiti constituted under the Jal Jeevan Mission, consider the following statements: 1. It is chaired by the Sarpanch, Up-Sarpanch or a traditional village leader as decided by the Gram Sabha. 2. It is required to have at least 50% women among its members. 3. It is typically constituted with 10 to 15 members. 4. Its members are nominated by the District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM), and not by the Gram Sabha. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

1. It is chaired by the Sarpanch, Up-Sarpanch or a traditional village leader as decided by the Gram Sabha.
2. It is required to have at least 50% women among its members.
3. It is typically constituted with 10 to 15 members.
4. Its members are nominated by the District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM), and not by the Gram Sabha.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1, 3 and 4 only
• D. 4 only

Q9. As per the Ministry of Jal Shakti's announcement on release of central assistance for FY 2025-26 under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0, how many States received funds (totalling about Rs 1,561 crore) after signing reform-linked MoUs and complying with the mandatory structural reform conditions?

• A. Three
• B. Five
• C. Nine
• D. Twelve

Q10. With reference to the reform-linked MoUs being signed by States/UTs with the Union Government under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0, as distinct from the original JJM, consider the following statements: 1. Under JJM 2.0, release of central assistance to a State is contingent upon its compliance with structural reforms specified in the reform-linked MoU. 2. Bihar and Manipur were among the first five States to receive central funds under JJM 2.0 for FY 2025-26 after fulfilling the MoU compliance conditions. 3. The reform-linked MoUs under JJM 2.0 are signed bilaterally between the State governments and the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Under JJM 2.0, release of central assistance to a State is contingent upon its compliance with structural reforms specified in the reform-linked MoU.
2. Bihar and Manipur were among the first five States to receive central funds under JJM 2.0 for FY 2025-26 after fulfilling the MoU compliance conditions.
3. The reform-linked MoUs under JJM 2.0 are signed bilaterally between the State governments and the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. With reference to the restructuring of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) under JJM 2.0 approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2026, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Under JJM 2.0, the total outlay has been enhanced to ₹8.69 lakh crore and the central share raised to ₹3.59 lakh crore, against a central share of ₹2.08 lakh crore approved in 2019-20.
2. JJM 2.0 retains the infrastructure-creation orientation of the original mission and confines its changes to extending the completion timeline to December 2028.
3. Unlike the original JJM, release of central funds to a State under JJM 2.0 is made contingent on the State signing a reform-linked MoU committing to structural reforms in rural water governance.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. Which one of the following is the nodal Union department that operationalises the Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 and signs the reform-linked MoUs with State Governments?

• A. Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti
• B. Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti
• C. Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development
• D. National Mission for Clean Ganga, Ministry of Jal Shakti

Q13. Under which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India is Parliament empowered to provide by law for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of any inter-State river or river valley?

• A. Article 131
• B. Article 246
• C. Article 262
• D. Article 263

Q14. The 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain' campaign is implemented under the aegis of which one of the following Missions of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)?

• A. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem
• B. National Water Mission
• C. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
• D. National Mission for a Green India

Q15. Which one of the following is the empowered nodal agency through which all funds for the Namami Gange Programme are routed and the programme is implemented nationwide?

• A. Central Water Commission
• B. National Ganga Council
• C. National Mission for Clean Ganga
• D. Central Pollution Control Board