New Delhi: As many as 1.61 lakh drinking water samples out of nearly 64 lakh tested across India during 2025–26 were found to be contaminated, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Monday.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Jal Shakti V. Somanna said that states and Union Territories reported testing more than 63 lakh water samples in drinking water quality laboratories during the current financial year.

According to the data presented in the House, 63.96 lakh samples were tested during 2025–26, of which 1.61 lakh samples were found to be contaminated.

The minister also shared testing figures from previous years. Over 59 lakh samples were tested during 2023–24, while more than 82 lakh samples were examined during 2024–25 in drinking water quality testing laboratories across the country.

Somanna noted that the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – Har Ghar Jal, launched in August 2019, aims to provide potable tap water of prescribed quality and adequate quantity to rural households on a regular and long-term basis.

He added that drinking water is a state subject, and the responsibility for planning, designing, implementing and maintaining water supply schemes rests with state and Union Territory governments. The Centre supports them through technical and financial assistance.

To strengthen monitoring of water quality, the government has developed an online JJM Water Quality Management Information System portal to facilitate testing, reporting and surveillance of drinking water samples.

The minister further said that a “Citizen Corner” on the Jal Jeevan Mission dashboard displays village-level water quality test results in the public domain to promote transparency and build public confidence in piped water supply in rural areas.