India has witnessed a marginal improvement in its groundwater levels in 2025, according to the latest official report. The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) released its Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India, 2025 report this week, revealing a complex picture of the nation's water security.
The annual groundwater recharge increased from 446.9 billion cubic metres (BCM) in 2024 to 448.52 BCM in 2025. This has also led to a slight increase in water availability for various uses across the country. However, this year's recharge figure still falls short of the 2023 level, which was recorded at 449.08 BCM.
A Closer Look at the Assessment Units
The CGWB conducted a detailed assessment of 6,762 units (blocks, mandals, and talukas) nationwide. The findings are alarming, as nearly one-fourth of these units continue to be categorized as semi-critical, critical, or over-exploited.
Approximately 730 units, or 10.8% of the total, were classified as 'over-exploited', meaning the groundwater extraction in these areas far exceeds the natural replenishment. The report highlights that the collective percentage of over-exploited, critical, and semi-critical units surpassed 25% in nine states and Union Territories: Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.
Geographical Hotspots of Water Stress
The crisis is not uniformly distributed. The over-exploited administrative units are heavily concentrated in specific regions. Parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh are the most affected.
Conversely, the report also points to positive developments. It acknowledges that good continuous rainfall and proactive management practices have yielded results. "In some areas of the country, good continuous rainfall and management practices like groundwater augmentation and conservation measures taken up under central and state govt initiatives have resulted in improvement in groundwater situation," the report stated.
Several states reported a significant increase in groundwater recharge this year, including Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Causes and the Monsoon Connection
The primary reason for groundwater depletion is identified as "indiscriminate withdrawals" for agriculture and other uses, compounded by climatic factors. On a positive note, rainfall remains the lifeline for India's aquifers, contributing to nearly 60% of the total annual groundwater recharge.
An official linked the improved recharge directly to the monsoon, stating, "So, the increase in water recharge can be attributed to better monsoon rainfall this year than 2024. Good rainfall means less extraction of groundwater for farming operations." This underscores the critical link between climate patterns and the nation's water security, highlighting the need for robust conservation measures beyond relying on seasonal rains.
