India's water management initiatives are increasingly being recognised as a model for developing countries, with a senior World Bank official praising the country's efforts to expand drinking water access, restore rivers and improve dam safety.

Saroj Kumar Jha, Global Director for Water at the World Bank Group, described India's progress as a "remarkable success story", noting that several developing nations are studying its approach to address their own water-related challenges.

"For the World Bank Group, India is a remarkable success story. It's the water journey that every single developing country is looking at," Jha said during a virtual press briefing ahead of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.

The conference, co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal, is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, bringing together international leaders, policymakers and development organisations to strengthen cooperation on water security and sanitation.

Jha highlighted India's major initiatives, including the Jal Jeevan Mission, Namami Gange Programme and Swachh Bharat Mission, as examples of large-scale public programmes that could offer practical lessons to other nations.

Jal Jeevan Mission draws international attention

Highlighting the scale of India's drinking water programme, Jha said the Jal Jeevan Mission had reached 800 million people with improved drinking water access in less than seven years, describing the achievement as remarkable.

He said India's approach was particularly significant because of its scale, government leadership, public participation and financing mechanisms. However, he also noted that the programme's next phase would require greater attention to sustainability, operations and maintenance.

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Namami Gange and dam safety among key achievements

Jha also praised the Namami Gange Programme for its contribution to reducing pollution and improving the overall health of the Ganga river system. He noted that the World Bank had supported the National Mission for Clean Ganga through different financing instruments.

Emphasising the cultural and economic significance of rivers, he said they were closely connected to civilisation, livelihoods and human development.

On dam safety, Jha said World Bank-supported initiatives had helped improve the resilience of nearly 900 dams in India. He also highlighted the establishment of centres of excellence aimed at strengthening technical expertise and institutional capacity in the sector.

India's urban water management initiatives also received appreciation, particularly efforts to encourage financially capable municipalities to access capital markets and improve public services.

Meanwhile, Stephanie Rambler, Senior Sustainable Development Officer at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, said India was actively involved in preparations for the upcoming conference. India is expected to send a high-level government delegation and organise a side event focusing on river cities, water security and resilience.

The conference will feature seven plenary meetings and six interactive dialogues, with a broader focus on accelerating progress towards universal access to clean water and sanitation.

With international attention increasingly turning towards sustainable water management, India's experience is expected to remain an important part of discussions at the December conference.