Q.13 Examine the factors responsible for depleting groundwater in India. What are the steps taken by the government to mitigate such depletion of groundwater? (UPSC CSE 2025, GS PAPER-3) (Answer in 250 words,15 marks)

The Introduction:

Groundwater is India’s lifeline as it supplies drinking water to villages and cities and irrigation to millions of farms. But over the last few decades many aquifers have been stressed. Groundwater decline hurts farmers and urban households. According to the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), India’s annual extractable groundwater resource is about 400 billion cubic metres (BCM) which is about 25% of total global groundwater extraction.

The Body

Factors responsible for groundwater depletion

1. Irrigation-driven over-extraction: Agriculture consumes about 90% of groundwater. Expansion of borewells for water-intensive crops and the increase in area under irrigation have pushed extraction well above natural recharge in many blocks. For example, many blocks of Punjab and Haryana are severely water-stressed.

2. Electricity and input subsidies: Free or cheap electricity in several states encourages more pumping. When the marginal cost of pumping is low, farmers over-pump rather than invest in efficient irrigation.

3. Poor irrigation efficiency: Predominant use of flood irrigation and lack of micro-irrigation leads to waste. Even when water is available, inefficient delivery raises demand for groundwater.

4. Urbanisation and industrial draw: Rapid city growth and unregulated industrial extraction put extra pressure on urban aquifers.

5. Loss of recharge and catchment change: Encroachment of wetlands, concretisation of open areas, silted water bodies and poor watershed management have reduced natural recharge zones.

6. Climate variability: Erratic monsoons and more frequent droughts reduce recharge and make farmers rely more on groundwater as an insurance.

7. Groundwater pollution: Contamination with fluoride, arsenic, nitrates renders some aquifers unusable, raising pressure on clean aquifers elsewhere.

Government steps to mitigate depletion

• • Atal Bhujal Yojana: It is a community-led groundwater management which focuses on demand-side management, water budgeting and Gram-panchayat water security plans.
  • Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY): Promotes micro-irrigation (drip & sprinkler) with subsidies to improve irrigation efficiency and reduce groundwater dependence. Watershed Development Component (WDC) aims at ensuring ecological integrity of the watershed while providing sustainable and equitable economic activities to the communities
  • Jal Jeevan Mission: It aims to provide potable piped water to rural homes, reducing the need for private borewells.
  • Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM): Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has taken up Aquifer Mapping for preparation of aquifer/ area specific ground water management plans with community participation.
  • Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) and watershed programs: These schemes improve surface storage and groundwater recharge through desiltation, check dams and watershed works.
  • Jal Shakti Abiyan: Campaigns like ‘Catch the Rain’ promote rainwater harvesting and recharge.
  • State Initiatives: Various states have launched their respective initiatives. For example, Haryana Government’s Mera Pani Meri Virasat to encourage crops that require less water instead of paddy which consumes more water in a bid to undo over-exploitation of ground water. Similarly, Pani Panchayat initiatives by the Maharashtra Government is a community-based water movement to ensure equitable water distribution and management

The Conclusion

India’s groundwater assessments show small gains in recharge in parts, but many areas remain over-exploited and vulnerable. Tackling depletion requires demand-side management. Schemes like Atal Bhujal Yojana, PMKSY and improved CGWB monitoring provide tools, but success hinges on state action, farmer behaviour change and better enforcement at the local level.