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Drinking Water & Sanitation

The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India, formerly under the Ministry of Rural Development as Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, is presently headed by the Cabinet Minister, Drinking Water & Sanitation. The Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) was the first major intervention in the water sector that started in 1972-1973. To accelerate coverage, a Technology Mission on Drinking Water was launched in 1986. In 1991-92, this mission was renamed Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission, and in 1999, the Department of Drinking Water Supply (DDWS) was formed under Ministry of Rural Development, for focused attention on drinking water and sanitation. The first major sector reform project (SRP) was started in the same year. Later was renamed as Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation in 2010 and in 2011, it was conferred the Ministry status, keeping in view the extreme importance given to the sector by the ruling government.