India is making unprecedented strides in groundwater conservation with the completion of 3.96 million rainwater harvesting and recharge projects since the ‘Catch the Rain – Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ campaign kicked off in September 2024. This people-driven movement is redefining the nation’s approach to water management.
Key objectives include capturing rainwater, reviving water sources, recharging borewells, and constructing recharge shafts to bolster depleting aquifers. These steps are crucial to averting future water shortages and ensuring long-term availability.
The Groundwater Artificial Recharge Master Plan prioritizes region-specific technologies to maximize impact. With a goal of 14.2 million structures, the plan eyes recharging 185 billion cubic meters of groundwater, a game-changer for water-stressed areas.
As the primary source for irrigation, potable water, and ecosystems, groundwater faces threats from excessive pumping, pollution, and erratic weather patterns. India’s response is a holistic framework blending policy innovation, data-driven insights, robust infrastructure, and grassroots involvement.
Led by the Jal Shakti Ministry, the network includes 43,000+ monitoring wells, 712 resource centers, and over 53,000 water quality labs. The Atal Bhujal scheme targets seven high-risk states, optimizing water across 668,000+ hectares with a Rs 6,000 crore budget focused on institutional capacity and tangible outcomes.
Mission Amrit Sarovar has transformed landscapes by creating 68,000+ district-level ponds, each designed to hold 10,000 cubic meters. Integrated with Jal Jeevan Mission, it sustains water sources for rural communities.
A suite of programs—the Model Bill (adopted by 21 states), Jal Shakti campaigns, Catch the Rain, 2020 Master Plan, Atal Bhujal, and Amrit Sarovar—work in synergy to safeguard and monitor groundwater. Regular state engagements via workshops and summits reinforce collaborative conservation.
This concerted effort positions groundwater management as a cornerstone against climate vulnerabilities, paving the way for resilient, water-secure growth.