BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government has the highest number of tap water connections in the country.

Only 13.30 percent of Uttar Pradesh households have tap water connections. It is not the highest among all Indian states.

Only 13.30 percent of Uttar Pradesh households have tap water connections. It is not the highest among all Indian states.

On January 14, 2022, while addressing a press conference, Union Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan claimed that Bharatiya Janta Party-led Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of tap water connections in the country. The claims were made only days ahead of the state's assembly elections, which are set to begin on February 10, 2022. While listing out the state government's achievements, Pradhan claimed, "If any state has received the maximum number of tap water connections in the country, it has been the state of Uttar Pradesh." However, this is not true.

According to the official website of 'Jal Jeevan Mission,' the government of India, Uttar Pradesh, has 2.64 Crore rural households with over 97,000 villages, out of which 35 lakh (13 percent) households have a tap water supply. "In the last 26 months, despite disruptions faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, the state has provided tap water connection to 28.85 lakh (10.92 percent) households," the website states.

Out of all the states and union territories in the country, Goa, Telangana, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, Daman and Diu, and Haryana have tap water supply in 100 percent of the households. Whereas 98.82 percent in Punjab, 92.11 percent in Himachal Pradesh, 67.60 families in Maharashtra, and 89.34 homes in Bihar have a tap water supply.

Even though the above states don't have a fair comparison with Uttar Pradesh, which has the maximum number of households among all states, at 13.30 percent, the percentage of tap water supplies in the state is deficient.

On November 11, 2021, the State Level Scheme Sanctioning Committee (SLC) of Uttar Pradesh approved proposals worth Rs 1,882 crores to provide tap water connections in rural areas, covering a population of 39 lakh in 1,262 villages of 33 districts. According to the approval, tap water connections will be provided to 4.03 lakh rural households of Uttar Pradesh under these schemes.

Considering U.P. does not have the highest number of tap water connections in the country under the government's Jal Jeevan mission; therefore, the claim is false.