Strengthening Groundwater Management for India’s Water Future

• India is the world's largest user of groundwater, which underpins ~99% of Earth's liquid freshwater and forms the backbone of Indian agriculture and drinking water supply.
• The PIB Backgrounder (22 Jan 2026) consolidates a multi-pronged framework — monitoring infrastructure + supply-side augmentation + demand-side community management — under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Directly examinable for Prelims (scheme facts, station counts) and Mains GS-III (water resources, sustainable agriculture, SDG 6/11/12).