Groundwater depletion India, India is the largest country in the world that consumes groundwater more than the total of the U.S. and China; almost 90 percent of this groundwater is used in agriculture.
What Is the Problem?
The Central Ground Water Authority of India stated that it has found that around eleven percent of the groundwater assessment units are being overexploited. On an annual basis, groundwater extraction has risen from 239 billion cubic meters in 2022 to 247 billion cubic meters in 2025. In Punjab, 114 of the total of 150 blocks have been overexploited.
What Causes This Problem?
The country uses groundwater to fund six percent of irrigation and eighty-five percent of rural drinking water supply. This issue is compounded because Indian agriculture is mostly dependent on the so-called thirsty crops. In fact, over ninety-five percent of wheat and almost seventy percent of rice are irrigated by groundwater.
Is There a Solution? – groundwater depletion India
In 2025, a stronger monsoon season has helped slightly improve groundwater recharge. Rain alone can’t solve the problem, and it has been recommended to reduce the subsidies. Rain supplies nearly 60 percent of recharge, so weak monsoons hit hard.
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