The Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) was introduced in 1972-73 by the Government of India to assist the States and Union Territories (UTs) to accelerate the pace of coverage of drinking water supply. The entire programme was given a Mission approach with the launch of the Technology Mission on Drinking Water and Related Water Management in 1986. Later in 1999 Department of Drinking Water Supply was formed to give more emphasis on Rural Water Supply programme.

The Bharat Nirman Programme is a step taken towards building up a strong Rural India by strengthening the infrastructure in six areas viz. Housing, Roads, Electrification, Communication(Telephone), Drinking Water and Irrigation, with the help of a plan to be implemented in four years, from 2005-06 to 2008-09. The primary responsibility of providing drinking water facilities in the country rests with State Governments. The efforts of State Governments are supplemented by Government of India by providing financial assistance under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP). ARWSP has been under implementation since 1972-73. In 1986, the National Drinking Water Mission, renamed as Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission in 1991, was launched and further in 1999, the Department of Drinking Water Supply was created, to provide a renewed focus with mission approach to implement programmes for rural drinking water supply. The proposed strategy for coverage in respect of rural drinking water supply under Bharat Nirman is as follows :

Norms for potable water	Criteria for fund allocation
Physical and Financial Progress	Fund Release
Forms & Templates	Terms of reference for DLMs
Online Monitoring	DLM Formats for ARWSP