Persistent Decline in India’s Groundwater 

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

Context

• India’s groundwater levels are declining persistently, according to the State of Global Water Resources 2025 report published by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

What is Groundwater Depletion?

• Groundwater depletion is the condition when the rate of groundwater extraction exceeds the rate at which groundwater is naturally replenished through rainfall infiltration, surface-water seepage and other recharge processes.
• Unlike a temporary fall in the water table, persistent depletion indicates a sustained imbalance between groundwater withdrawal and recharge.
• India holds 18% of the world’s population but only 4% of its freshwater resources, placing enormous pressure on available water systems.
  • India depends on groundwater for about 85% of its rural drinking water needs and around 60% of irrigation water.

Key Findings of the WMO Report

• The report uses 2001–2020 as the reference period to assess groundwater conditions.
• Globally, 34% of groundwater observation stations recorded below-normal to much-below-normal levels in 2025.
  • Around 31% of stations recorded above-normal to much-above-normal groundwater levels, indicating significant regional variation.
• Northern India recorded below-normal terrestrial water storage in 2025, indicating continued pressure on the region’s freshwater reserves.
• The WMO also reported that global terrestrial water storage has shown a declining trend since 2014–2016, reflecting a longer-term deterioration in freshwater availability.

Drivers Behind the Groundwater Declining in India

• Over-extraction: Agriculture accounts for the largest percentage of groundwater withdrawal in India.
  • Since paddy and wheat are water heavy crops, the demand for ground water is significant in locations where the natural recharging is limited.
• Subsidised electricity: Low or subsidised electricity for agricultural pumping can reduce the economic incentive to conserve groundwater and encourage excessive extraction.
• Variable groundwater recharge: Fast urbanisation, concreting and wetland loss restrict the area for natural infiltration and aquifer recharge.
• Climate variability: Erratic rainfall, lengthy dry spells and increasing temperatures can impair efficient recharge of groundwater and increase irrigation demand.

Initiatives taken by Governement

• Jal Shakti Abhiyan (2019): Focuses on water conservation and groundwater recharge in water-stressed districts.
• National Aquifer Mapping Program (NAQUIM): Helps delineate and understand aquifers for sustainable management.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana was launched to improve groundwater management in priority areas with critical and overexploited blocks.
• The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) regulates groundwater extraction through guidelines, particularly for industrial and infrastructure uses.
• Micro-irrigation under schemes such as the Per Drop More Crop component promotes efficient use of irrigation water.

Way Ahead

• Groundwater management needs to shift from controlling extraction alone to managing the entire aquifer balance.
• Crop diversification towards less water-intensive crops should be supported through assured procurement, price incentives and appropriate agricultural infrastructure.
• Groundwater budgets should be prepared at the aquifer and watershed level, using reliable monitoring data.

Source: DTE