DDWS & BISAG‑N Forge GIS Platform for Rural Water & Sanitation

The Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with BISAG-N (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics) to develop a GIS-integrated decision support platform. This collaboration will digitally transform the way Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) [SBM(G)] are planned, monitored, and evaluated across rural India.

Purpose of the Partnership

The platform will integrate real-time geospatial intelligence with mission data to strengthen transparency, accountability, and efficiency in implementation. It will serve as a digital backbone for monitoring.

• Rural piped water supply schemes (RPWSS) with unique IDs
• Household-level water delivery tracking
• Progress in sanitation infrastructure and hygiene behavior
• By digitizing and mapping water and sanitation assets, the system will allow better planning, allocation of resources, and targeted interventions.

Key Features of the Platform

• GIS mapping and dashboard analytics for live tracking of mission data
• Tools for ground control surveying, photogrammetry, and thematic mapping
• Integration with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan to align rural water and sanitation projects with other infrastructure like roads and power lines
• Convergence with rural development schemes to enhance impact and cost-efficiency
• End-to-end support by BISAG-N including database design, migration, and system development

Alignment with National Goals

This digital initiative supports India’s broader mission of Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat by using indigenous technology to solve grassroots problems. It also contributes to achieving the goals of,

• Har Ghar Jal under Jal Jeevan Mission
• Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus villages under SBM(G)
• Infrastructure mapping under PM GatiShakti

Static Facts

• DDWS: Department under Ministry of Jal Shakti
• BISAG-N: Autonomous body under Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY)
• Main Missions: Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen)
• Platform Purpose: GIS-based decision support and real-time monitoring