Now that's good news, particularly since it comes at a time when the country grapples with groundwater depletion. But it's not time yet to celebrate, though.

Groundwater levels remain concerning in many agriculture-dominated regions of the country and states such as Punjab, Haryana, and Meghalaya. State-wise analysis indicates that in agriculture-dominated regions, districts experiencing urban expansion, and hilly areas, groundwater levels are still on the wane.

Annual Groundwater Recharge

Recently, Union Minister of Jal Shakti C.R. Patil furnished data from the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), stating that the country’s total annual groundwater recharge increased from 432 billion cubic metres (bcm) in 2017 to 448.52 bcm in 2025. 

Moreover, the proportion of units in the safe category increased from 62.6% to 73.14%, while the overexploited units declined from 17.2% to 10.8%. The effective implementation of initiatives such as the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Atal Bhujal Yojana, and Mission Amrit Sarovar propelled this improvement in the groundwater levels.

However, the situation in some states, particularly in the agriculture-dominated regions of north India, is concerning. A decline of 42.16% (in groundwater levels) was observed in Punjab, and 38.27% in Haryana.

The cultivation pattern of water-intensive crops such as paddy was cited as the main reason for a decline in groundwater levels in western Uttar Pradesh.

In central India, Madhya Pradesh recorded an increase of 82.82% in groundwater levels, and Chhattisgarh recorded an increase of 74.14%.

National Water Data Policy

At this stage, the National Water Data Policy 2026, which was introduced on March 23, 2026, during the World Water Day Conclave 2026 held recently in New Delhi, takes prominence. Its effective implementation would address the issue in states most affected by groundwater depletion. 

In 2019, the Ministry of Jal Shakti formed a committee of independent experts to prepare the draft for a revised National Water Policy. The revised policy proposes how dams should be constructed and how groundwater issues should be addressed. “Water conservation should be considered a shared national responsibility, requiring coordinated efforts among government, industry, agriculture, and communities,” the Union Minister for Jal Shakti had said on the occasion of World Water Day. 

In order to achieve water security across the country, groundwater depletion must be addressed as a priority, particularly in agriculture-dominated regions.

In this regard, a policy shift is in the making, indicating a transformation from an extraction-based model of groundwater use towards a recharge-based model. Aquifer protection in urban regions, crop diversification (particularly in north India), and community-based water management in semi-arid regions become crucial in this shift towards a recharge-based model. 

The official data clearly indicate a significant improvement in groundwater levels across states in the southern parts of the country. Though Karnataka registered a considerable rise in groundwater levels, 45 talukas in the state are over-exploited, 11 are critical, 36 are semi-critical, and 145 are safe. Under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan in the state, 1.762 million works were completed. With public participation in water conservation, 253,000 structures were constructed. More than 25,000 recharge structures were also created. 

In West Bengal, groundwater levels increased by 80.86%, by 69.60% in Odisha, and by 63.62% in Bihar. According to experts, with proper planning, eastern India can become a “Groundwater Buffer Zone”.

Surprisingly, Meghalaya registered groundwater depletion in 75% of its wells, which is the most concerning in any state. 

With the proper integration and streamlining of data, public participation, research and innovation, and integrated water data hubs, isolated incidents of groundwater depletion could be addressed, ensuring water security across the country. This would herald a shift in groundwater use – from an extraction-based model to a recharge-based model.