Groundwater, a vital freshwater resource, has witnessed rising rates of extraction and contamination with hazardous chemicals and sewage. Factors such as rapid urbanisation, increasing water demand and depleting water resources due to climate change have added to groundwater stress in India. The government has implemented various policy interventions to conserve groundwater, incentivise its recharge and rejuvenation, and monitor its quality and extraction. The success of these initiatives is paramount in meeting the rising water demand.
In addition, technological advancements such as internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI)-based smart sensors and digital flow water meters are gaining traction among urban local bodies to regulate groundwater extraction. The integration of groundwater-related data through advanced web platforms such as the Bhu-Neer portal and the online water quality management information system (WQMIS) portal is enhancing its monitoring and management. Further, recharge-oriented solutions such as rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge structures are gaining uptake as suitable measures to recharge and rejuvenate groundwater.
Status of groundwater extraction and quality
The monitoring of groundwater levels plays a crucial role in avoiding its overexploitation and taking measures for its replenishment. The central government is making efforts to identify areas with low levels of groundwater and adopt corrective actions and water management practices. To this end, the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) has conducted periodic groundwater assessments and surveys across the country. According to its National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report 2024, released in December 2024, the current average groundwater extraction in India stands at around 60 per cent. To tackle this high extraction rate, the government has taken various remedial measures and initiatives. Additionally, the availability of reliable database and comparative analysis of groundwater parameters helps examine the impact of existing policies and programmes. It also provides a foundation for planning and implementing future strategies for sustainable groundwater management.
Improving groundwater quality across states is also a priority. The data on the quality of various groundwater resources for all the states and union territories (UTs) has been collected by CGWB through a geographic information system-based web platform called “India Groundwater Resource Estimation System”. Based on this data, the majority of the assessment units (around 73 per cent), comprising blocks, mandals and talukas in the states/UTs, have been reported to lie in the “safe” category. However, around 11 per cent of the assessment units are still categorised as “over-exploited” and another 11 per cent as “semi-critical”. In addition, 3 per cent come under the “critical” category and around 2 per cent under the “saline” category.
A key positive trend is the improvement in groundwater conditions in 128 assessment units in 2024 compared to 2023. Moreover, 25 states/UTs have reported groundwater extraction levels below the national average of 60 per cent.
Digital initiatives to monitor extraction and quality
The deployment of digital solutions and technologies to provide real-time data on groundwater levels and quality has increased in recent times. This data is being used to optimise water distribution and regulate the rate of groundwater extraction in different regions. In line with this, MoJS launched the Bhu-Neer portal in November 2024, which aims to manage groundwater withdrawal permits. This will incentivise the public to use groundwater judiciously. Developed by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), the portal will provide comprehensive information on regulations related to groundwater extraction at the national and state levels. It also enables access to important data on policies, groundwater compliance and sustainable practices that need to be adopted by users. Additionally, to monitor the groundwater extraction rates efficiently, CGWA is exploring the use of digital flow water meters with telemetry. These meters are likely to be equipped with cloud-based data management software to track groundwater consumption and extraction rates. A similar development at the municipal level is the recent adoption of IoT-based smart sensors by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to track groundwater levels and extraction rates. This will allow the utility to take necessary interventions for groundwater regulation and management in Bengaluru to address the water scarcity issue.
Moreover, ULBs are collaborating with research institutes to develop more efficient water monitoring systems. For instance, in June 2024, BWSSB collaborated with the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru; CGWB; and the Karnataka Groundwater Authority, to introduce an AI-based groundwater monitoring system. This system enables real-time data collection, analysis and reporting, providing insights into groundwater availability in the city.
CGWB monitors groundwater levels and quality at regular intervals through its vast network of monitoring wells. The data generated from this exercise is made publicly available through reports and other platforms. Besides, under the Jal Jeevan Mission, a WQMIS portal has been developed to facilitate water quality testing, reporting, monitoring and surveillance of drinking water sources throughout the country. As of February 10, 2025, 2,180 laboratories have tested around 6,868,170 drinking water samples in India as reported on the WQMIS portal.
Recent efforts for groundwater conservation, rejuvenation and recharge
According to the National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report 2024, the total annual groundwater recharge in India has increased by 15 billion cubic metres (bcm) and extraction has reduced by 3 bcm in 2024 as compared to the 2017 assessment. This can be attributed to the increasing initiatives centred around conservation, rejuvenation and recharge. The central and state governments have introduced programmes and campaigns focused on rainwater harvesting (RWH) and groundwater replenishment. One of the key initiatives is the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) launched in 2019. JSA is an umbrella campaign that converges with multiple central and state-level schemes to undertake various activities including promotion of groundwater management. Since its launch, around 10.5 million water conservation and RWH structures have been constructed under JSA. As of December 2024, a total expenditure of Rs 27,911.2 million has been incurred for water conservation and RWH under the JSA-Catch the Rain initiative. In addition, around Rs 928.1 million has been spent by states and UTs on the construction of water recharge and reuse structures.
In another development, in September 2024, MoJS launched the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative in Surat, Gujarat, under JSA. It includes the construction of approximately 24,800 RWH structures in Gujarat, with a focus on community partnerships, and at least a million artificial recharge structures across the country. It aims to strengthen community participation in groundwater conservation based on reduce, reuse, recharge and recycle principles. Moreover, in December 2024, the Water Resources Department in Odisha sought officials’ support at the district and municipal levels to incentivise public and private entities to renovate existing recharge systems, repair dysfunctional ones and construct new cost-effective structures in the state.
Future leap
The depleting levels of groundwater call for urgent attention and collective action from communities, governments and other stakeholders. A major challenge is groundwater contamination, caused by leaching of minerals from industrial waste, untreated sewage and fertilisers. The potential solutions for improving groundwater quality and availability must focus on efficient waste management, localised monitoring of water levels, recharge of aquifers and sustainable farming practices. The government’s flagship programmes and other groundwater conservation initiatives offer a positive outlook.
CGWB is undertaking studies under the National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM) 2.0 for high-resolution mapping in identified priority areas such as water-stressed regions, contaminated zones, coastal areas, urban centres and industrial hubs. As of December 2024, around 2.5 million square km have been mapped under NAQUIM.
Going forward, collaborations with research organisations and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies will play a crucial role in accelerating groundwater rejuvenation in India.
Shubhangi Goswami and Aditi Gupta