A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday to extend the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 until December 2028. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay participated in the virtual signing from Chennai, while Union Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Patil joined from New Delhi. This extension follows the Union Cabinet's approval and aims to provide functional household tap connections to rural households. In the first phase of the JJM, 46.71 lakh connections were established, benefiting 1.86 crore residents. The approved budget for this phase was ₹18,123.05 crore, with equal contributions from both the Union and State governments. The new phase will see an initial allocation of ₹2,177.27 crore from the Centre's Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS). The MoU reflects the ongoing commitment of both governments to ensure safe and adequate drinking water supply across Tamil Nadu's rural areas. Key officials, including Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti V. Somanna and Chief Secretary M. Saikumar, were present during the meeting.