Shares of NCC Limited rose more than 5% in Wednesday’s trading session after the Union Cabinet approved a major extension of the government’s flagship rural drinking water programme, the Jal Jeevan Mission, significantly increasing its total spending.
The Cabinet approved the extension of the mission until December 2028 and enhanced the total project outlay to about ₹8.69 lakh crore, according to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The development boosted sentiment for infrastructure and EPC companies, including NCC, which are expected to benefit from upcoming water supply and rural infrastructure projects linked to the scheme.
The Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the objective of providing safe and adequate drinking water through tap connections to all rural households across India.
With the latest approval, the government has decided to restructure the programme to shift its focus from infrastructure creation toward service delivery. The new approach will emphasise stronger drinking water governance and the creation of an institutional ecosystem to ensure the long-term sustainability of rural piped drinking water supply.
As part of the restructuring, the Cabinet approved an enhancement of the mission’s total outlay to ₹8.69 lakh crore. The total central assistance has also been increased to ₹3.59 lakh crore, compared with ₹2.08 lakh crore that was originally approved when the scheme was launched in the 2019–20 financial year.
Another key initiative under the revised framework is the launch of a nationwide digital platform called “Sujalam Bharat.” Under this system, every village will be assigned a unique Sujal Gaon or Service Area ID. The platform will digitally map the entire drinking water supply network—from the water source to the tap—helping authorities monitor infrastructure, improve service delivery, and strengthen water governance.