Annual Groundwater Quality Report 2024 – UPSC Current Affairs Analysis
Detailed, exam-focused notes on India’s groundwater quality, usage, pollution, schemes and reforms – highly relevant for UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains (GS 1 & GS 3).
The Ministry of Jal Shakti released the Annual Groundwater Quality Report 2024 for the entire country. The assessment has been carried out by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).
The report adopts Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for uniform and reliable monitoring of groundwater quality and serves as a crucial reference for:
- Policymakers and regulators
- Researchers and scientists
- Administrators and local bodies managing groundwater
- UPSC aspirants preparing Environment & Resource-related topics
The report is prepared within the following institutional structure:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Jal Shakti |
| Assessment Authority | Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) |
| Geographical Coverage | Entire India – all States and UTs |
| Methodology | Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for uniform sampling & testing |
| Purpose | Policy formulation, regulation, research and public awareness |
For UPSC Current Affairs, this report directly links to topics like water security, sustainable development, climate change adaptation, and agricultural sustainability.
India is the largest user of groundwater in the world and has the largest area under groundwater irrigation.
Sector-wise groundwater usage:
| Sector | Share in Total Extraction |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | 87% |
| Domestic Use | 11% |
| Industrial & Others | 2% |
This reflects a highly agriculture-centric groundwater economy, influenced by free/cheap power, water-intensive crops, and unregulated borewell extraction – a key point for UPSC Mains GS 3.
The report notes a positive shift in overall groundwater balance in recent years:
- Total Annual Groundwater Recharge increased by about 15 BCM.
- Total Groundwater Extraction declined by around 3 BCM.
This improvement is partly due to water conservation schemes, rainwater harvesting and awareness campaigns, though regional disparities remain.
States and UTs are categorized based on the level of groundwater extraction:
| Category | Extraction Level | Examples of States/UTs |
|---|---|---|
| Safe | < 70% | Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Maharashtra (and most States/UTs) |
| Semi-Critical | 70–90% | Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Puducherry, Chandigarh |
| Critical | 90–100% | No State/UT in this category presently |
| Over-Exploited | > 100% | Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu |
Over-exploited regions are both agricultural and urban hotspots, making them highly vulnerable in terms of future water security.
The report gives a clear picture of the dominant ions in Indian groundwater:
| Component Type | Dominant Ions |
|---|---|
| Cations | Calcium > Sodium > Potassium |
| Anions | Bicarbonate > Chloride > Sulfate |
| Overall Water Type | Calcium–Bicarbonate type water |
Key regional observations:
- Rajasthan and Gujarat show high chloride levels due to natural Na-Cl formations.
- Over-extraction and repeated wetting–drying cycles increase salt concentration, worsening salinity.
The report has important implications for agriculture – a key topic for UPSC.
- Over 81% of groundwater samples are safe for irrigation.
- Some regions face high Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR) and Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC), which can:
- Damage soil structure
- Reduce crop productivity
- Cause long-term land degradation
- North-Eastern States – 100% of samples are excellent for irrigation.
States with 100% BIS-compliant samples:
Regions facing widespread contamination:
Salinity hotspots:
- Barmer (Rajasthan)
- Jodhpur (Rajasthan)
Rising Electrical Conductivity (EC) in these districts indicates worsening groundwater salinization – critical for both drinking water and irrigation.
Seasonal monitoring reveals:
- Monsoon recharge generally improves groundwater quality.
- Fluoride levels tend to decline post-monsoon.
- Reduced Electrical Conductivity (EC) after rains, indicating dilution of salts.
This underlines the importance of rainwater harvesting and aquifer recharge measures for sustainable groundwater management.
Discharge of untreated industrial effluents contributes to:
- Heavy metal contamination
- Chemical & solvent intrusion into aquifers
- Long-term toxicity in shallow and deep groundwater
Excessive and unregulated use of:
- Fertilizers (especially nitrogenous)
- Pesticides and herbicides
leads to:
- Nitrate contamination of groundwater
- Chemical leaching into aquifers
- Over-extraction for irrigation, promoting salinization
Rapid and often unplanned urbanization causes:
- Leakage from sewer lines into shallow aquifers
- Runoff from landfills and dumping yards
- Intrusion of untreated municipal waste and industrial effluents
Climate change alters hydrological cycles and impacts groundwater:
- Erratic monsoons and altered rainfall patterns
- Longer dry spells and droughts
- Reduced natural recharge of aquifers
- Higher dependence on groundwater during climate extremes
Governance-related issues worsen groundwater depletion and pollution:
- Multiple agencies and fragmented regulation
- Outdated legal framework – Indian Easement Act, 1882, linking groundwater rights to land ownership
- Poor aquifer-wise data and unclear boundaries
- Unregulated private wells and borewells
A World Bank-assisted scheme focusing on:
- Community participation in groundwater management
- Demand-side management in water-stressed Gram Panchayats across 7 states
- Water budgeting and crop planning at local level
A nationwide campaign for:
- Water conservation and rainwater harvesting
- Focused initially on water-stressed districts, later expanded to all districts
- Revival of traditional and modern recharge structures
Aims to create or rejuvenate 75 Amrit Sarovars in every district:
- Enhances water harvesting capacity
- Supports groundwater recharge
- Improves rural livelihoods and micro-climate
A dedicated portal providing:
- Information on legal frameworks and regulations governing groundwater
- State and national level norms for groundwater extraction
- Guidance for obtaining permissions and clearances
Implemented by CGWB, focusing on:
- Mapping of major aquifers
- Assessment of quantity and quality of groundwater
- Preparation of sustainable aquifer management plans
High-resolution surveys in stressed areas, covering about 1 lakh sq km in North-Western India:
- Helicopter-mounted sensors for sub-surface imaging
- Helps in identifying aquifer geometry, deeper aquifers and recharge zones
A national-level plan suggesting:
- Check dams, percolation tanks, recharge shafts, injection wells
- Urban rainwater harvesting structures
- Integration with local planning and watershed programmes
A Model Bill has been circulated to States/UTs to:
- Regulate groundwater extraction
- Restrict over-exploitation and uncontrolled drilling
- Ensure sustainability and equity in access
Many states implement watershed-based programmes, often linked with MGNREGA, focusing on:
- Soil and moisture conservation
- Water harvesting and recharge
- Sustainable livelihoods in rural areas
The Mihir Shah Committee recommended creation of a unified National Water Commission (NWC) by merging:
- Central Water Commission (CWC) – surface water
- Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) – groundwater
This would enable integrated water resources management, a key phrase for UPSC Mains answers.
Key legal steps needed:
- Separate groundwater rights from land ownership
- Empower local bodies – Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies – to regulate extraction
- Formalize groundwater rights for small and marginal farmers
- Enable legal access and financial opportunities for marginalized communities
Water-efficient agriculture:
- Drip and sprinkler irrigation
- Crop diversification to less water-intensive crops
- Zero tillage and conservation agriculture
Rainwater harvesting & traditional systems:
- Revival of traditional structures like Johads in Rajasthan, tankas, stepwells, etc.
- Urban rooftop rainwater harvesting
Artificial recharge:
- Use of recharge wells and trenches
- Prevention of saltwater intrusion in coastal areas
- Reducing land subsidence in over-exploited regions
Blue-green infrastructure:
- Integrating parks, wetlands, urban lakes, floodplains
- Enhancing aquifer recharge and urban resilience together
Community participation is crucial for sustainable groundwater management.
Example: Mission Kakatiya (Telangana)
- Restoration of minor irrigation tanks
- Strengthening community-based irrigation management
- Improvement in groundwater recharge and agricultural incomes
The Annual Groundwater Quality Report 2024 shows that India is at a critical juncture in terms of water security. While improvement in recharge and quality in some regions is encouraging, issues like over-extraction, pollution, climate stress and weak governance remain serious challenges.
A sustainable groundwater future for India requires a combination of legal reforms, institutional restructuring, scientific aquifer management, community participation and behavioural change. Integrating these themes in your UPSC Mains answers will show a holistic understanding of water governance and environmental sustainability.
