Shri C. R. Paatil Launches Jal Mahotsav 2026 as Union Minister of Jal Shakti

Key facts

• Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Paatil, launched the Jal Mahotsav 2026, organised by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), from Rahej village in the Navsari district of Gujarat.
• Minister of State, Shri V. Somanna, led the simultaneous launch of the nationwide campaign activities in Maharashtra.
• Minister of State, Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary, presided over the start of the water management initiative in Bihar.
• Additional Secretary and Mission Director Shri Kamal Kishore Soan attended the launch ceremony which included the formal handover of water assets to Gram Panchayats (GPs).
• Gujarat state ministers Shri Ishvarsingh Patel and Shri Nareshbhai Patel participated in the event which featured the screening of a film titled Sujalam Shakti Diwas.
• Shri C. R. Paatil felicitated community contributors, including members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), pump operators, and village volunteers, for maintaining rural water systems.
• Shri C. R. Paatil noted that over 24 lakh women are currently engaged in water quality testing under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
• Shri C. R. Paatil highlighted how the JJM and Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) have improved health and dignity in rural India.