Examine the factors responsible for depleting groundwater in India. What are the steps taken by the government to mitigate such depletion of groundwater?

GS 3

Environment & Ecology

2025

15 Marks

Groundwater depletion has emerged as one of the most serious environmental risks for India, with the UNU-EHS ranking it among the top six tipping points globally. India is already the largest user of groundwater in the world, surpassing the combined usage of the USA and China.

Factors Responsible for Groundwater Depletion

Factor	Details	Examples
Agricultural Over-extraction	Nearly 80% of groundwater is used for irrigation, especially in paddy and wheat belts. Subsidised electricity and free borewells encourage unregulated pumping.	Punjab and Haryana where 78% of wells are over-exploited
Inefficient Irrigation Practices	Flood irrigation dominates with only 35–40% water use efficiency.	Contrast with drip and sprinkler systems in Gujarat and Maharashtra
Urbanisation and Industrialisation	Rapidly growing cities and industries increase demand, leading to overdrawal of aquifers.	Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai; textile hubs in Tamil Nadu
Climate Change and Erratic Rainfall	Reduced recharge and increased pumping during droughts; climate change projected to worsen depletion.	Studies suggest depletion may triple by 2080
Environmental and Ecological Impact	Over-extraction dries wetlands and rivers, reduces biodiversity, and causes land subsidence.	Land subsidence in North India’s aquifers
Quality Deterioration	Over-pumping increases concentration of minerals and pollutants.	Arsenic contamination in West Bengal; fluoride in Andhra Pradesh

Steps Taken by the Government

National Policy and Legal Framework
- Model Groundwater (Sustainable Management) Bill, 2017: Provides a framework for states to regulate extraction through permits and water budgeting.
- Groundwater Regulation by CGWA: Notification of over-exploited blocks and mandatory permission for new borewells.
National Schemes
- Atal Bhujal Yojana (2019): ₹6,000 crore World Bank-assisted scheme for sustainable groundwater management in 7 states.
- Jal Shakti Abhiyan (2019): Mission-mode campaign for rainwater harvesting, watershed development, and aquifer recharge across 256 districts.
- National Water Policy (2012, under revision): Prioritises water use efficiency and sustainable groundwater use.
Water-use Efficiency
- PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana & Per Drop More Crop: Incentives for drip and sprinkler irrigation to improve efficiency.
- Expansion of micro-irrigation with central subsidies under centrally sponsored programmes.
Recharge and Conservation Initiatives
- National Rainwater Harvesting Mission: Promotes mandatory rainwater harvesting in urban and rural areas.
- Central support for watershed development programmes like Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP).
Technology and Monitoring
- National Aquifer Mapping Programme (NAQUIM): Mapping aquifers across 23 million sq. km for better planning.
- Use of remote sensing, GIS mapping, and real-time digital groundwater monitoring supported by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Awareness and Behavioural Change
- Jal Jeevan Mission (2019): Focuses on household tap water supply and water conservation awareness.
- Swachh Bharat Mission convergence: Linking sanitation, safe water, and behaviour change.

Looking ahead, solutions include incentivising futuristic crop shifts by linking MSP to climate-resilient crops like millets and pulses, piloting a digital groundwater credit trading platform, and enforcing mandatory recharge obligations for urban infrastructure.

Leveraging AI-driven forecasting tools and creating district-level groundwater cooperatives can future-proof India’s water governance and ensure long-term sustainability.

Answer Length

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