The United Nations reported on August 26, 2025, that over two billion people worldwide, equivalent to one in four individuals, still lack access to safely managed drinking water. Despite some progress since 2000, when the global population was 6.2 billion, the increase to 8.2 billion by 2024 has seen only 2.2 billion people gain access to safe water, with inequalities persisting, especially among vulnerable communities. More than 100 million people continue to rely on surface water sources such as rivers, ponds, and canals, which are often unsafe. The World Health Organization and UNICEF emphasize that safe drinking water is a basic human right but note that progress toward universal coverage is insufficient. Climate change and rapid urbanization are exacerbating water insecurity, particularly in regions like India and South Asia, where water governance remains fragmented and top-down. India faces challenges including high non-revenue water losses, unreliable urban water supply, and strained transboundary rivers and aquifers due to increased virtual water exports. The degradation of over 2.4 million water bodies in India further threatens water access and biodiversity. Experts call for integrated, basin-level water governance and transboundary cooperation to address climate risks, geopolitical tensions, and water stress. Globally, water use has increased sixfold in the last century, underscoring the critical need for sustainable water management to support health, ecosystems, economies, and food security.