Ananjay Kumar Tiwary IRS re-designated Director – Drinking Water & Sanitation
Shri Ananjay Kumar Tiwary IRS (IT 2012) presently Deputy Secretary in the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation has been re-designated as Director in the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation with effect from 01.01.2026 for a period up to 01.02.2028 i.e. total admissible tenure of five years under the Central Staffing Scheme. The central deputation tenure of Shri Ananjay Kumar Tiwary is w.e.f. 02.02.2023.
The Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS) functions under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, and plays a pivotal role in ensuring access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation facilities across the country. The department is central to India’s efforts to enhance public health, improve quality of life in rural and semi-urban areas, and promote sustainable water and sanitation practices. Through policy formulation, programme implementation, and coordination with state governments, the department works toward achieving universal access to drinking water and sanitation services.
One of the core mandates of the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation is the implementation of flagship national programmes related to rural drinking water supply and sanitation. The department is responsible for designing guidelines, allocating funds, monitoring progress, and ensuring effective execution of these programmes by states and local bodies. Its work directly impacts millions of households by addressing issues related to water availability, quality, affordability, and hygiene. The department’s initiatives are aligned with national development priorities and global commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A major focus area of the department is ensuring safe and adequate drinking water for all rural households. Through long-term planning and infrastructure development, the department promotes sustainable water supply systems based on source sustainability, groundwater recharge, and efficient water management. Emphasis is placed on community participation, operation and maintenance of water assets, and the use of modern technologies for monitoring water quality and supply systems. These measures aim to ensure reliability, safety, and long-term viability of drinking water services.
Equally important is the department’s responsibility for improving sanitation coverage and hygiene behaviour. Sanitation programmes under its purview aim to eliminate open defecation, improve solid and liquid waste management, and promote behavioural change through awareness and community engagement. The department works closely with Panchayati Raj Institutions, self-help groups, and local communities to ensure that sanitation infrastructure is effectively used and maintained. Behaviour change communication remains a cornerstone of sanitation initiatives, helping to embed hygienic practices in everyday life.
The Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation also places strong emphasis on institutional strengthening and capacity building. Training programmes, technical support, and knowledge-sharing platforms are developed to enhance the capabilities of state and district-level officials, engineers, and frontline workers. By strengthening human resources and administrative systems, the department ensures better planning, implementation, and monitoring of programmes. Such institutional capacity-building efforts are frequently highlighted in Indian Bureaucracy Latest News for their role in improving governance outcomes.
Technology and data-driven governance form another important pillar of the department’s functioning. Digital dashboards, geo-tagging of assets, real-time monitoring systems, and water quality testing tools are increasingly used to track progress and improve transparency. These digital interventions support evidence-based decision-making and help identify gaps in service delivery. The adoption of such tools reflects the government’s broader emphasis on transparency, accountability, and performance-oriented administration.
The department also works to promote sustainability and resilience in the water and sanitation sector. This includes encouraging rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, reuse of treated wastewater, and environmentally responsible waste management practices. Climate resilience is an integral consideration, particularly in water-stressed and drought-prone regions. By integrating environmental safeguards into programme design, the department contributes to long-term water security and ecological balance.
Coordination with state governments, local bodies, civil society organisations, and international partners is a defining feature of the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation. Effective inter-governmental coordination ensures that national policies are adapted to local conditions and implemented efficiently. Partnerships with development agencies and knowledge institutions further strengthen programme design and innovation. Such collaborative governance approaches are often cited by indianbureaucracy.com as examples of effective administrative coordination in the public sector.
Overall, the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation serves as a cornerstone of India’s public health and rural development framework. By integrating infrastructure development, behavioural change, institutional strengthening, and technology-driven monitoring, the department continues to advance its mission of ensuring safe drinking water and improved sanitation for all. Its work not only enhances living standards but also contributes significantly to public health outcomes, environmental sustainability, and inclusive socio-economic development across the country.
Indian Bureaucracy News Network wishes Shri Ananjay Kumar Tiwary the very best.