Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural) on Tuesday (July 28, 2026) said it has entered into knowledge-partnership arrangements with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indore and under progress a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, aiming at embedding modern management practices, and robust monitoring systems across the organisation’s operations, eyeing for modernising rural water supply and river rejuvenation infrastructure across Uttar Pradesh.

“Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Ji and Minister Swatantra Dev Singh Ji, in a dedicated attempt towards modernising rural water supply and sanitation infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural) — UPJN(R) — has entered into knowledge-partnership arrangement with country’s premier institution: the Indian Institute of Management, Indore and under progress a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, through the AIRAWAT Research Foundation. The collaborations are aimed at embedding cutting-edge technology, modern management practices, and robust monitoring systems across the organisation’s operations, as UPJN(R) works to sustain and build upon the gains achieved under the Jal Jeevan Mission, which has brought functional tap connections to over 2.51 crore rural households across the state,” Anurag Srivastava, Additional Chief Secretary, of the Namami Gange and Rural Water Supply Department, told The Hindu in Lucknow.

Under its engagement with the AIRAWAT Research Foundation, housed at IIT Kanpur, UPJN(R) is developing an AI-enabled decision-support and governance framework. “The first phase of this initiative covers integrated data management and analytics along with an AI-enabled public grievance redressal system, built on the organisation’s existing digital infrastructure. Subsequent phases are expected to extend into groundwater sustainability, rural wastewater analytics, proactive water-quality monitoring, and end-to-end visibility of water distribution to the last consumer. Following recent discussions, the scope has also been widened to include the reuse of treated sewage and scientific sludge treatment and its reuse — reflecting UPJN(R)’s growing focus on circular, sustainable models of water and sanitation management,” added Mr. Srivastava, a 1992-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.

Alongside this, Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural) signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with IIM Indore to strengthen its newly established Technology and Innovation Cell. “The partnership envisages collaboration across capacity building and training, behavioural-change communication for water conservation, technology advisory for smart governance, and management and financial strategy, supported by a Joint Steering Committee with equal representation from both institutions. Taking this partnership two studies of IIM Indore were approved: a Comprehensive Review of Financial Management and Operational Processes, and a Cadre Assessment and Restructuring study,” said Raj Shekhar, Managing Director of Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural).

Mr. Shekhar, added that the two approved studies are expected to address some of the most pressing organisational challenges facing Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural), including a manpower structure that has not kept pace with the roughly fifty-fold increase in workload since the launch of the Jal Jeevan Mission. “The studies will undertake a detailed review of Operation and Maintenance systems for water-supply schemes, examine reporting and monitoring frameworks, and recommend a cost-effective and rational manpower policy distinguishing functions suited to permanent staffing from those better served through contractual or outsourced arrangements. They will also explore new revenue-generation models, including consultancy-based revenue leveraging UPJN(R)’s own technical expertise, and will benchmark the organisation against high-performing water utilities in other states to identify best practices that can be adapted locally,” said Mr. Shekhar, a 2004-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.

The 2004-batch IAS officer said these partnerships mark a deliberate shift by Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural) towards a technology-enabled, professionally managed, and financially sustainable model of service delivery.

“These collaborations are expected to yield tangible improvements across the full spectrum of the organisation’s work — from planning and construction of schemes, to their long-term operation and maintenance, to the responsiveness of its public grievance redressal mechanisms. With IIT Kanpur and IIM Indore on board as knowledge partners, UPJN(R) is positioning itself to deliver safe drinking water and effective sewage treatment and disposal services to rural Uttar Pradesh with the standards of efficiency, transparency and reliability expected of a world-class public water utility,” said Mr. Shekhar.

Published - July 29, 2026 12:03 pm IST