Which became the first state in India to provide 100% tap water connections to rural households (2020)?

In 2020, Goa became the first state in India to provide functional household tap connections (FHTCs) to 100% of its rural households under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). In 2022, it also became the first state to be certified as a "Har Ghar Jal" state, meaning every rural household was certified by its village gram sabha as having access to safe drinking water through a tap.

About the Jal Jeevan Mission:

• It was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 August 2019.
• It is implemented by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Its aim is to provide every rural household with safe and adequate drinking water through a tap connection, at the rate of 55 litres per person per day, of the prescribed quality (BIS:10500 standard), on a regular and long-term basis. The original target was 2024, later extended.

It follows a community-based approach, in which village water and sanitation committees (Pani Samitis) plan, run and maintain the water supply. Women are given an important role, and five women in every village are trained to test water quality using field test kits.

Its slogan is "Har Ghar Jal" (water in every home).

When the mission started in 2019, only about 3.2 crore (about 17%) of rural households in India had tap water connections. By 2024-25, the figure had risen to around 15 crore.

After Goa, other states and union territories such as Telangana, Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu also reached 100% coverage.

Goa is also India's smallest state by area and has a high Human Development Index.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Sikkim was the first fully organic state (2016).
• ✗Kerala was declared India's first fully literate state in 1991 (Kottayam was the first fully literate town).
• ✗Telangana also reached full coverage, but after Goa.