India completes a decade of AMRUT
10 Years of AMRUT Transforming Urban India: India has achieved a major milestone by completing 10 years of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). Launched in 2015, this scheme focused on improving everyday urban life—clean water, efficient drainage, better lighting, and green spaces. In just a decade, AMRUT has changed how basic services are delivered in many Indian cities. Over 2 crore urban households now have tap connections, and more than 1.5 crore homes are connected to sewer lines.
What AMRUT set out to do?
The idea behind AMRUT was simple—make Indian cities more livable. It aimed to provide tap water and sewerage to all urban households, develop parks, promote non-motorized transport, and make Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) more capable. The scheme gave importance to smart solutions like real-time monitoring through SCADA technology, while also training city workers to handle modern urban needs.
Achievements in water and sanitation
Between 2015 and 2025, the mission delivered over 2.03 crore tap connections. Under AMRUT 2.0, more than 3,500 water projects worth ₹1.14 lakh crore were approved. Cities also got better at treating wastewater with 6,739 MLD sewage treatment capacity added. Innovations like Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) helped smaller cities where full sewage networks were not feasible.
Energy savings and smart lighting
One of AMRUT’s big wins was replacing old streetlights with 99 lakh LED lights, leading to an annual saving of 666 crore kilowatt-hours. That’s equal to avoiding 46 lakh tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year. It’s a good example of how simple tech upgrades can lead to big environmental gains.
Greener and more accessible cities
Parks were made more inclusive with features for children and the elderly. Under AMRUT, 544 water bodies were rejuvenated, covering over 9,500 acres. AMRUT 2.0 expanded the vision, approving more than 3,000 additional water bodies for revival. This has helped improve groundwater recharge and urban biodiversity.
Urban mobility and transport
The mission also focused on making cities walkable. Footpaths, cycle lanes, and Bus Rapid Transit Systems (BRTS) were built in many cities. Efforts were also made to improve last-mile connectivity through footbridges, ferry systems, and multi-level parking.
Financial push and innovation
Urban transformation needs funds. AMRUT encouraged cities to raise money via municipal bonds. Thirteen ULBs raised nearly ₹5,000 crore this way. Over 90,000 people, including plumbers and urban engineers, received training. The Technology Sub-Mission supported over 120 start-ups in solving real-world city issues.
Key features of AMRUT 2.0
Launched in October 2021, AMRUT 2.0 aimed to cover all ULBs, with a massive budget of ₹2.99 lakh crore. It also launched initiatives like “Jal Hi AMRIT” to encourage water reuse and sustainability. The new version plans universal water and sewer coverage by 2026.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Topic | Details |
Mission Name | Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) |
Launch Year | 2015 |
Total Tap Connections | 2.03 crore |
Total Sewer Connections | 1.50 crore |
Water Projects Approved (AMRUT 2.0) | 3,568 |
Sewage Projects Approved | 592 |
LED Streetlights Installed | 99 lakh |
CO₂ Emissions Saved | 46 lakh tonnes per year |
Water Bodies Rejuvenated | 544 (AMRUT), 3,032 (AMRUT 2.0) |
AMRUT 2.0 Outlay | ₹2.99 lakh crore |
Municipal Bonds Raised | ₹4,984 crore |
Number of ULBs Involved | 485 cities (as of 2025) |
Start-ups Supported | 120 |
People Trained | Over 90,000 |
Ministry Involved | Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) |