Recently, the Union Minister of Jal Shakti released the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report for the entire country for the year 2024. The assessment was carried out jointly by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and States/UTs.
About Central Groundwater Board (CGWB)
- Formation: Established in 1970 by renaming the Exploratory Tube wells Organization (ETO) to develop groundwater policies and programs.
- Structure: A multi-disciplinary scientific organization comprising hydrogeologists, geophysicists, chemists, hydrologists, hydrometeorologists, and engineers.
- Headquarters: Located in Faridabad, Haryana.
- Central Groundwater Authority (CGWA)
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- Constituted under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- Responsible for the regulation and control of groundwater development and management in India.
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Groundwater
Groundwater is water that seeps through the soil and rocks and is stored underground.
- The rocks where groundwater is stored are called aquifers, which are typically made of sandstone, gravel, limestone, or sand.
- India is the largest consumer of groundwater globally, using about 25% of the world’s groundwater resources.
- Groundwater is the backbone of India’s agriculture and drinking water security, contributing nearly 62% to irrigation, 85% to rural water supply, and 50% to urban water supply.
Groundwater Regulations in India
- Legal Framework: Legal framework in India does not explicitly define groundwater ownership and rights.
- Groundwater rights are based on the Indian Easement Act, 1882, which ties groundwater ownership to land rights.
The public trust doctrine (Supreme Court, 2004) emphasizes government responsibility to protect groundwater as a common resource.
- Regulatory Mechanisms: The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) enforces regulations, declares “notified areas,” and issues No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for groundwater extraction.
- Constitutional Framework: Groundwater falls under the state list, giving individual states the primary responsibility for its management. The Central Government provides guidance through policies and programs.
- Policy and Regulation Efforts: The Model Bill for the Conservation, Protection, Regulation, and Management of Groundwater (2017) proposes treating groundwater as a common resource rather than private property.
- Some states, like Maharashtra, have enacted laws to regulate groundwater extraction and protect shared resources.
Dynamic Groundwater Resource Assessment Report 2024 Key Highlights
- Groundwater Recharge and Extraction:
- Total Annual Groundwater Recharge: 446.90 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM).
- Extractable Groundwater Resource: 406.19 BCM (after accounting for natural discharge).
- Annual Groundwater Extraction: 245.64 BCM.
- Stage of Groundwater Extraction: 60.47% (National Average).
Stage of Groundwater Extraction (SOE) is the percentage of annual groundwater extraction for all uses in comparison to the annual extractable groundwater resource.

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- Categorization of Assessment Units:
- Total Units Assessed: 6,746 (Blocks/Mandals/Talukas).
- Safe Units: 4,951 (73.4%) – increased from 62.6% in 2017.
- Over-Exploited Units: 751 (11.1%) – reduced from 17.24% in 2017.
- Critical Units: 206 (3.05%).
- Semi-Critical Units: 711 (10.5%).
- Saline Units: 127 (1.8%) – due to brackish or saline groundwater in aquifers.
- Regional Variations:
Stage of Groundwater Extraction > 100%: Punjab, Rajasthan, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Haryana, and Delhi.
- Stage of Groundwater Extraction > 90% to 100%: Nil
- Stage of Groundwater Extraction > 70% to 90%: Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Puducherry and Chandigarh.
- Stage of Groundwater Extraction < 70%: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep.
- Groundwater Trends (2017-2024):
- Groundwater recharge increased by 15 BCM since 2017.
- Groundwater extraction reduced by 3 BCM compared to 2017.
- Recharge from tanks, ponds, and conservation structures increased by 11.36 BCM (from 13.98 BCM in 2017 to 25.34 BCM in 2024).
- Contributions to Recharge:
- Rainfall: Accounts for 61% of the total groundwater recharge, making it the primary contributor.
- Water Bodies, Tanks, and Ponds: Significant contributors to recharge, with recharge from these sources increasing by 11.36 BCM from 2017 to 2024 (from 13.98 BCM to 25.34 BCM).
- Water Quality Concerns:
- Contaminants in Groundwater: Presence of pollutants such as Arsenic, Fluoride, Nitrate, and Uranium affecting groundwater quality in various regions.
- Saline Groundwater: 127 assessment units (1.8%) categorized as saline, primarily due to brackish or saline groundwater in phreatic aquifers.
- Irrigation Suitability: 81% of groundwater samples are deemed suitable for irrigation.
- North-East states have 100% of groundwater categorized as “excellent” for irrigation.
- Regional Contamination: Areas with high Electrical Conductivity (EC) and specific contaminants are identified as hotspots for pollution, stemming from agricultural runoff and industrial discharges.
- Groundwater Conditions in 2024:
- Improvement in 128 assessment units compared to 2023.
- Increased focus on rainwater harvesting and conservation efforts under government schemes.
Factors Behind Improvements in Groundwater Conditions (as per the Assessment Report, 2024)
- Increased Recharge from Water Conservation Structures: Recharge from tanks, ponds, and water conservation structures (WCS) increased by 11.36 BCM since 2017, contributing significantly to groundwater improvement.
- Rainwater Harvesting: Implementation of rainwater harvesting structures in rural and urban areas under government schemes like Jal Shakti Abhiyan and Atal Bhujal Yojana.
- Artificial Recharge Measures: Construction of check dams, percolation tanks, and recharge wells to enhance artificial recharge to aquifers.
- Government Initiatives: Key programs such as Jal Shakti Abhiyan – Catch the Rain Campaign (2024), National Aquifer Mapping and Management (NAQUIM), and the Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater (2020)
- Reduced Extraction: Reduction in groundwater extraction by 3 BCM since 2017 due to improved water management practices and use of alternative water sources.
- Community Participation: Awareness campaigns and active involvement of local communities in water conservation and efficient usage practices.
- Improved Agricultural Practices: Adoption of water-efficient irrigation techniques like drip and sprinkler irrigation, reducing dependency on groundwater and aiding recharge.
- Natural Discharge Management: Allocating areas for natural discharge and replenishment of aquifers.
Groundwater Usage Pattern in India
- Agriculture: Primary Use: Groundwater is predominantly used for irrigation, accounting for over 60% of total extraction.
- Essential for water-intensive crops like paddy, sugarcane, and wheat, especially in states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
- Domestic Use: About 11% of extracted groundwater is used for domestic purposes.
- This includes drinking water supply for 85% of rural households and a significant portion of urban domestic demand.
- Industrial Use: Approximately 5-10% of groundwater is used in industries, particularly in areas where surface water availability is limited.
- Common in industries like textiles, paper, steel, and food processing.
- Regional Variations: North-Western States (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan): High dependency on groundwater for irrigation due to less surface water availability.
- Southern States (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka): Reliance on groundwater for domestic and agricultural purposes due to uneven rainfall and over-extraction of surface water.
- Urban Demand: Urban centers rely significantly on groundwater to supplement municipal water supply, especially in water-scarce cities.
- Groundwater as Drinking Water Source: Provides over 60% of India’s total drinking water needs, highlighting its critical role in public water supply.
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Reasons for Groundwater Depletion in India
- Excessive Irrigation Demand: Groundwater is over-extracted for agriculture, accounting for over 60% of total extraction.
- Cultivation of water-intensive crops like rice and sugarcane, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, worsens depletion.
- Inefficient Irrigation Practices: Predominant use of flood irrigation, which has high water wastage.
- Lack of widespread adoption of water-saving techniques like drip and sprinkler irrigation.
- Unregulated Groundwater Extraction: Lack of stringent laws and monitoring allows indiscriminate pumping of groundwater, especially for agricultural and industrial uses.
- Urbanization and Population Growth: Rapid urban expansion increases groundwater demand for drinking and industrial purposes.
- Encroachment on water bodies and loss of recharge zones due to construction activities.
- Climate Change: Erratic rainfall patterns reduce groundwater recharge.
- Frequent droughts and reduced monsoon intensity further stress aquifer replenishment.
- Decline in Recharge Areas: Deforestation, loss of wetlands, and reduction of green cover decrease natural groundwater recharge.
- Pollution: Contamination of aquifers due to industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and improper sewage disposal makes water unsuitable, forcing over-reliance on limited clean sources.
- Government Subsidies on Electricity: Subsidized electricity for agriculture leads to over-pumping of water using electric pumps.
- Low Adoption of Rainwater Harvesting: Despite awareness and policies, rainwater harvesting practices are underutilized in urban and rural areas.
- Geological Constraints: In regions with hard rock aquifers (e.g., Peninsular India), groundwater recharge is naturally limited due to low permeability.
Government Initiatives for Groundwater Management
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS): Includes water conservation and water harvesting structures, enhancing rural water security.
- Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): Launched in 2019, now in its 5th phase (“Catch the Rain” 2024), focusing on rainwater harvesting and water conservation across rural and urban districts through convergence of various schemes.
- Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0: Supports rainwater harvesting via stormwater drains and promotes groundwater recharge through ‘Aquifer Management Plans’.
- Atal Bhujal Yojana (2020): Targets water-stressed Gram Panchayats in 80 districts across 7 states, focusing on groundwater management.
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY): Aims to expand irrigation coverage and improve water use efficiency through components like Har Khet Ko Pani, Repair & Renovation of water bodies, and Surface Minor Irrigation schemes.
- Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE): The Ministry of Jal Shakti has set up the Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) under the National Water Mission on 20.10.2022, to act as a facilitator for promotion of improving water use efficiency across various sectors namely irrigation, drinking water supply, power generation, industries, etc. in the country.
- Mission Amrit Sarovar (2022): Aims to create or rejuvenate 75 Amrit Sarovars in every district for water harvesting and conservation.
- National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM): Completed by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) for over 25 lakh sq. km, supporting groundwater recharge and conservation plans.
- Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater (2020): Developed by CGWB, plans for 1.42 crore rainwater harvesting and recharge structures to harness 185 BCM of rainfall.
- National Water Policy (2012) has been formulated by the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, which advocates rainwater harvesting and conservation of water and also highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through direct use of rainfall.
- Watershed Development Component of PMKSY (WDC-PMKSY): Focuses on rainfed and degraded lands, incorporating activities like soil conservation, rainwater harvesting, and livelihoods development.
Challenges with Groundwater in India
- Over-Extraction for Agriculture: Agriculture accounts for nearly 89% of groundwater extraction in India.
- States like Punjab and Haryana rely heavily on groundwater for water-intensive crops like paddy and wheat, causing water tables to decline by 0.5-1 meter annually.
- Declining Water Tables: More than 750 blocks (11.1%) in India are classified as “over-exploited” (2024 report).
- In North India, particularly Punjab and Rajasthan, groundwater tables have dropped to critical levels, with some regions requiring deeper borewells.
- Pollution and Contamination: Pollutants like Arsenic, Fluoride, Nitrate, and Uranium affect groundwater in regions like West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
- Over 20 million people in West Bengal are exposed to arsenic contamination in drinking water.
- Saline Intrusion: Coastal regions like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha face saline water intrusion due to over-pumping of fresh groundwater.
- In Chennai, saline intrusion affects water quality, making it unsuitable for consumption.
- Inefficient Use in Agriculture: Predominant use of flood irrigation leads to wastage and inefficient groundwater usage.
- Farmers in Gujarat and Maharashtra still rely on traditional methods instead of drip irrigation, despite government subsidies.
- Urbanization and Industrialization: Increasing urban and industrial demand stresses aquifers.
- Cities like Bengaluru and Chennai face water shortages as over-extraction has caused wells to run dry, with water tables dropping by over 20 meters in some areas.
- Climate Change and Rainfall Variability: Erratic rainfall and reduced monsoon intensity impact natural recharge.
- In regions like Marathwada (Maharashtra), recurring droughts severely limit groundwater replenishment, further exacerbating shortages.
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Recommendations from the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report, 2024
- Water Balance Studies: Conduct detailed studies to better understand the interactions between groundwater, rainfall, surface water, and evapotranspiration.
- Such studies should be tailored to different hydrogeological setups (e.g., hard rock terrains, alluvial plains) to improve assessment accuracy.
- Aquifer Characterization: Undertake more experimental studies to refine norms for parameters like Rainfall Infiltration Factor (RIF), return flow from irrigation, and recharge contributions from conservation structures.
- These insights will aid in precise groundwater resource assessments.
- Linking Assessment with Management: Initiate case studies to evaluate how management interventions, such as water conservation structures, influence groundwater conditions in specific assessment units.
- This would help validate and optimize intervention strategies.
- Temporal Availability Studies: Move beyond seasonal assessments to account for temporal variations in groundwater availability, especially in areas with significant hydrogeological challenges like hard rock terrains.
- Frequent monitoring using Digital Water Level Recorders (DWLRs) is recommended.
- Database Creation and Updates: Develop and regularly update a comprehensive database of groundwater resources, including data on recharge, extraction, and quality.
- This will require enhanced coordination between state and central agencies and dedicated manpower for accurate data collection and analysis.
- Policy and Regulatory Actions: Enforce stricter regulations on groundwater extraction, encourage efficient irrigation techniques, and promote rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge to improve groundwater sustainability.
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Way Forward for Groundwater Management in India
- Promote Rainwater Harvesting: Implement large-scale rainwater harvesting systems in urban and rural areas to recharge groundwater.
- Adopt Water-Efficient Irrigation Techniques: Promote drip and sprinkler irrigation to minimize water wastage in agriculture, which consumes over 85% of extracted groundwater.
- Strengthen Groundwater Regulation: Enforce laws to regulate groundwater extraction, especially in over-exploited regions.
- Artificial Recharge Structures: Build check dams, percolation tanks, and recharge wells to enhance artificial recharge to aquifers.
- Aquifer Mapping and Management: Complete mapping of aquifers under the National Aquifer Mapping and Management (NAQUIM) program to identify critical zones and develop localized management plans.
- Community Participation: Empower local communities to participate in groundwater conservation through awareness campaigns and incentivized programs.
- Integrated Water Management: Integrate surface water and groundwater management to ensure holistic resource sustainability.
- Link river rejuvenation programs with groundwater recharge efforts.
- Improve Data Collection and Monitoring: Use Digital Water Level Recorders (DWLRs) to improve the accuracy of groundwater assessments and monitor recharge and extraction levels.
- Address Water Quality Issues: Implement measures to tackle contamination from Arsenic, Fluoride, Nitrate, and industrial pollutants.
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Conclusion
The Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report, 2024 highlights significant improvements in groundwater recharge and reduced extraction, reflecting the success of conservation efforts. However, challenges like over-extraction, regional disparities, and pollution persist, necessitating sustained management, regulatory measures, and community participation to ensure sustainable groundwater use for future generations.
Additional Reading: Ground Water Contamination