5 February 2026·PIB

AVAILABILITY OF SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER RESOURCES

In this note

1. At a Glance

India's water availability is governed by the "Assessment of Water Resources of India-2024" (Central Water Commission) for surface water and the annual Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment (CGWB + States) for groundwater [1][2].
Despite hosting ~18% of global population, India has only ~4% of global freshwater — making basin-wise and aquifer-wise budgeting examinable for GS-I (geography) and GS-III (environment/economy).
Key custodian: Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation [1].

5 Feb 2026 PIB release (Ministry of Jal Shakti) tabled the latest surface water (2116 BCM) and 2025 groundwater assessment (recharge 448.52 BCM; extractable 407.75 BCM) figures in Parliament [1].
31 Dec 2024: Union Jal Shakti Minister released the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report 2024 (recharge 446.90 BCM; extractable 406.19 BCM; extraction 245.64 BCM; stage of extraction 60.47%) [2].

Central Water Commission (CWC), est. 1945, periodically estimates basin-wise surface water — earlier benchmark 1869 BCM (Rao, 1975) revised to ~1999 BCM (2019 reassessment); latest 2116 BCM (2024 study) [1].
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), est. 1970 under Ministry of Jal Shakti, has conducted dynamic groundwater assessments since 1980; methodology overhauled per GEC-2015 (Ground water Estimation Committee).
Annual (not periodic) joint CGWB–State assessments institutionalised from 2022 onwards [1].

Surface water (river basins): 2116 BCM average annual availability — CWC 2024 study [1].
Groundwater recharge (2025): 448.52 BCM; Extractable: 407.75 BCM [1].
Groundwater recharge (2024): 446.90 BCM; Extractable: 406.19 BCM; Extraction: 245.64 BCM; Stage of Extraction (SoE): 60.47% [2].
Total assessment units (2024): 6,746 (Blocks/Mandals/Talukas); 4,951 (73.4%) categorised 'Safe' [2].
Categorisation thresholds (SoE): Safe ≤70%; Semi-Critical 70–90%; Critical 90–100%; Over-Exploited >100%.
Nodal ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti; Surface: Central Water Commission; Groundwater: Central Ground Water Board [1][2].
Constitutional position: Water is a State subject — Entry 17, List II; Union regulates inter-state rivers — Entry 56, List I; Art. 262 (inter-state river disputes).

Economic

Agriculture consumes ~80–85% of extracted groundwater; declining SoE from 2022 marginally improves irrigation security [2].
Falling water tables impose pumping-cost externalities on cultivators; relevant to MSP/fertiliser subsidy debates.

Environmental

Over-extraction concentrated in NW India (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, W-UP) and parts of South (TN, Karnataka, Telangana); 2024 found 26.6% units non-safe [2].
Climate variability alters monsoon-fed recharge — affecting the 2116 BCM headline figure year-on-year [1].

Federal / Administrative

Joint CGWB–State assessment exemplifies cooperative federalism; quality of data depends on State piezometer network density [2].
Inter-basin variation: Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin alone holds >60% of utilizable surface water; peninsular basins water-stressed.

Scientific / Technological

GEC-2015 norms + India-WRIS portal (CWC) digitise basin accounting; aquifer mapping (NAQUIM) by CGWB supports the assessment.

5 Feb 2026 — PIB statement by Ministry of Jal Shakti citing the 2024 CWC water resources assessment (2116 BCM) and 2025 Dynamic Groundwater Assessment (448.52 BCM recharge) [1].
31 Dec 2024 — Release of Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment 2024 — 73.4% units Safe, SoE 60.47% [2].
Annual assessment cycle institutionalised from 2022 — first time India moves from periodic to yearly groundwater accounting [1].

Average annual water resources in Indian river basins: 2116 BCM (CWC, 2024) [1].
Annual groundwater recharge (2025): 448.52 BCM [1].
Annual extractable groundwater resource (2025): 407.75 BCM [1].
Annual groundwater extraction (2024): 245.64 BCM [2].
Stage of Ground Water Extraction (2024): 60.47% [2].
Total assessment units (2024): 6,746; Safe units: 4,951 (73.4%) [2].
Surface water assessment study title: "Assessment of Water Resources of India-2024" by Central Water Commission [1].
Groundwater assessed jointly by CGWB and State Governments [1].
Nodal ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti [1].
Threshold for 'Over-Exploited' category: SoE >100%.
Categories of assessment units: Safe, Semi-Critical, Critical, Over-Exploited.
Groundwater assessment methodology basis: GEC-2015.
Water — State subject under Entry 17, List II; inter-state rivers — Entry 56, List I; Article 262 governs disputes.
Annual groundwater assessment institutionalised from 2022 [1].

GS-I: Indian Geography — distribution of natural resources (water).
GS-III: Conservation, environmental pollution; agricultural water use.
Likely stems:
"Despite a near-doubling of the assessed surface-water resource since 1975, India remains water-stressed. Discuss with reference to basin-wise distribution and groundwater dependence."
"Evaluate the shift from periodic to annual Dynamic Ground Water Assessment in strengthening India's water governance."
"Examine the federal architecture of water resource management in India in light of constitutional provisions and recent CWC/CGWB assessments."

Jal Jeevan Mission — household tap connections; demand-side counterpart.
Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY) — community-led groundwater management in 7 states.
National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM) — CGWB programme feeding the assessment.
PMKSY (Per Drop More Crop) — irrigation efficiency.
Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 — Cauvery, Krishna tribunals.
National Water Policy 2012 — pricing, basin planning.
Composite Water Management Index (NITI Aayog) — state-level benchmarking.
Namami Gange — river rejuvenation linked to surface flows.

Confusing Total Recharge (448.52) with Extractable Resource (407.75) — the latter excludes natural discharge [1].
Attributing groundwater assessment to CWC — it is CGWB; surface to CWC [1].
Stating water is a Union subject — it is State (Entry 17, List II); only inter-state rivers fall under Union.
Treating Dynamic Ground Water Assessment as decadal/periodic — it has been annual since 2022 [1].
Mixing up 2024 (446.90 BCM) and 2025 (448.52 BCM) recharge figures.