Achieving SDGs in water and sanitation sectors in India

India, with over 1.37 billion population and housing one-sixth of the world’s inhabitants, has a significant role to play in the achievement of
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper analyses the policies and programmes of the Government of India, towards the
achievement of Targets 6.1 and 6.2 of SDG-6 that focus on safe drinking water and sanitation. The alignment of the policies and programmes
is discussed in correlation of the output, outcome, and impacts on these targets of SDG 6. The Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Mission (SBM)
launched in 2014 led the country with more than 98% of households having access to toilets. The Jal Jeevan Mission has the ambitious target
of universal coverage of drinking water supply. While these programmes have led to the overall development, a vast scope of improvement in
these sectors exists especially considering the growing population, economic activity, urbanisation, and climate change impacts. Analysis
also shows that adequate quantitative and qualitative data on the implementation of the various policies and programmes would be instrumental
in synergising the implementation of the SDGs. A systems-thinking approach for sustaining the efforts of the ongoing programmes
and ensuring equitable benefits of development in the water and sanitation sectors in India is recommended.