India’s water management initiatives a model for developing nations: World Bank official
- IBEF
- November 11, 2026
India’s water management initiatives have emerged as a model for developing countries, according to Global Director for Water at the World Bank Group Mr. Saroj Kumar Jha, who described India’s progress as a remarkable success story. Speaking at a virtual press briefing ahead of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, Mr. Saroj Kumar Jha highlighted the Jal Jeevan Mission, Namami Gange and Swachh Bharat Mission as practical solutions that other countries could replicate. The Jal Jeevan Mission has reached 800 million people with access to improved drinking water in less than seven years, an achievement described as unprecedented in scale. Nigeria’s “Clean Nigeria” campaign was influenced by the Swachh Bharat Mission, and countries in the Global South are looking at the Jal Jeevan Mission as a model to replicate.
The Namami Gange Programme has been remarkably successful in reducing pollution in the Ganga and improving the river’s health. The World Bank has supported the National Mission for Clean Ganga through various financing instruments. World Bank funding has also helped India improve the resilience of nearly 900 dams, while the country has established centres of excellence to strengthen technical expertise. India’s urban water management efforts, including initiatives encouraging creditworthy municipalities to access capital markets, were also praised. Co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal, the conference will be held in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, 2026. India is expected to send a large high-level delegation and organise a side event on “river cities”.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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