India, Jan. 22 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
Key Takeaways
Introduction
Groundwater Management for Sustainability and Long-term Security
Government Initiatives Strengthening Groundwater Management
Developing sustainable groundwater management strategies
State
Improvement in Rate of Groundwater Decline (m/year)
Area under Efficient Water Use (Ha)
Digital Water Level Recorder (DWLR) Installed
Digital / Analog Water Level Indicators Installed
Gujarat
20
58,470.19
828
2001
Haryana
18
1,77,454.25
1,165
1669
Karnataka
23
1,86,595.22
970
410
Madhya Pradesh
5
13,493.24
669
670
Maharashtra
16
1,31,372.06
1,129
1133
Rajasthan
20
74,352.07
960
1144
Uttar Pradesh
6
26,945.97
550
392
Total
108
6,68,683.00
6271
7419
India's Groundwater Infrastructure for Monitoring, Restoring, and Knowledge Support
Infrastructure
Availability Status
Water Quality Monitoring Stations
53,264
Artificial Recharge and Water Conservation Structures
97,742
Piezometer (Atal Jal)
6,519
Rain Gauge Stations
8,201
Water Flow Meters
32,286
Well Registered
15,03,711
Water Quality Monitoring (Through Field Testing Kit)
1,15,358
Conclusion2016 Model Bill for the Conservation, Protection, Regulation and Management of Groundwater 2016
Groundwater comprises nearly 99% of Earth's liquid freshwater and offers substantial social, economic, and environmental benefits, including climate resilience. In India, the groundwater serves as the primary foundation of agricultural activity and drinking water supply, meeting nearly 62% of irrigation needs, 85% of rural consumption, and 50% of urban demand. Rapid population growth, agrarian intensification, industrial expansion, and urbanisation have collectively intensified pressure on groundwater systems in the country. In this context, the adoption of scientifically informed and sustainable groundwater management practices has become imperative. While water governance lies within the purview of State Governments, the Central Government, notably through the Ministry of Jal Shakti and associated ministries, plays a facilitative role by extending coordinated technical and financial support through various schemes and programmes, designed to reinforce conservation, regulation, and enduring groundwater management across the nation.
Understanding Groundwater
Groundwater is a freshwater that seeps into soil and rocks, where it is stored underground before naturally emerging or being drawn for human use. It maintains water levels in many rivers and streams, and it strongly influences the habitats of wetlands for plants and animals. The underground layer that can store and transmit ground water in sufficient quantities is called as Aquifer. The water from aquifers can flow out naturally, contributing to springs, streams and rivers or it may be pumped through dug wells, tube well and borewells.
Groundwater Management - Elements and Priorities
Groundwater management is a part of integrated water resources management and protection. The core foundations in groundwater management are the functions and uses of groundwater (aquifers), the problems and pressures (threats) acting upon them, and the impact of management measures on the overall functioning of the sustainability of the groundwater system.
As per the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), effective groundwater management needs 4 key priorities to ensure sustainable and balanced use of groundwater resources:
Necessity for Groundwater Management
India possesses extensive groundwater reserves whose physical characteristics and availability vary widely across regions, yet in recent decades these resources have faced growing stress from excessive extraction, declining quality, and limited regulation, raising serious concerns about long-term sustainability.
The growing groundwater crisis has strengthened the Government's commitment to effective management, reaffirmed by India's COP 21 commitment to climate resilience and long-term growth. Effective groundwater management is vital for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 6, SDG 11, and SDG 12.
In response to escalating groundwater stress and the need for sustainable water security, the Government of India has launched a comprehensive set of policies, programmes, and community-driven initiatives aimed at strengthening groundwater management, enhancing recharge and conservation, improving scientific assessment, and promoting participatory and outcome-oriented groundwater management across India.
Model Groundwater (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Bill
Groundwater resources require effective regulation and management to prevent indiscriminate extraction and to promote sustainable practices such as rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge. In light of these considerations, the Central Government prepared a Model Groundwater Bill to provide a regulatory framework for the control and management of groundwater resources by States.
Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR)
The JSA: CTR campaign was launched on 22 March 2021, coinciding with World Water Day. The campaign works towards building nationwide awareness and nurturing collective action on water conservation, strengthening the message that every drop counts. It encourages citizens across the country to contribute to the preservation of India's water future through practical measures and community-level engagement.
Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB)
The Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) initiative was launched under the JSA: CTR campaign on 6 September 2024.
National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM)
* Characterising aquifers based on hydrogeological properties
* Assessing groundwater availability and quality
* Preparing detailed aquifer maps
Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater-2020
Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal)
Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal) focuses on promoting community-led sustainable groundwater management in water-stressed areas of 7 States, namely Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Launched on 25 December 2019, the scheme supports water source sustainability for the Jal Jeevan Mission. It also supports the Government's goal of doubling farmers' income and encourages responsible water use within communities. It further facilitates creating awareness, building local capacity, coordinating with other government schemes, and promoting improved agricultural practices.
Source: Ministry of Jal Shakti
Mission Amrit Sarovar
Launched on 24 April 2022, Mission Amrit Sarovar supports the creation of Amrit Sarovars (ponds) across all districts in the country. Each pond is planned to have a minimum area of one acre (0.4 hectare) and a water storage capacity of about 10,000 cubic metres.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Groundwater is central to India's water security, sustaining agriculture, drinking water supply, ecosystems, and agricultural activity, yet increasing pressures from overextraction, quality degradation, and climate variability have made sustainable groundwater management imperative. In response, India has embraced a comprehensive and multi-layered approach combining policy reform, scientific assessment, infrastructure creation, and community participation, led by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Key initiatives such as the Model Bill on Groundwater, Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain, Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari, NAQUIM 2.0, the Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater 2020, Atal Bhujal Yojana, and Mission Amrit Sarovar jointly reinforce recharge, monitoring, regulation, and demand side management.
Supported by an extensive network of groundwater monitoring stations, advanced data systems, and local knowledge centres, these efforts mark a transition towards scientifically informed, participatory, and outcome-oriented groundwater governance, establishing a durable framework for long term sustainability, climate resilience, and the achievement of national development goals.
References
Parliament of India
Comptroller and Auditor General of India
Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), Government of India
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Ministry of Jal Shakti
Central Water Commission (CWC), Ministry of Jal Shakti
Press Information Bureau
United Nations
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
World Bank
United States Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
California Department of Water Resources
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PIB Research
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
