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 programe was given a Mission approach with the launch of the Technology Mission on Drinking Water and Related Water Management in 1986 and renamed as Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission in 1991. Later in 1999 Department of Drinking Water Supply was formed to give more emphasis on Rural Water Supply programme.