AVAILABILITY OF SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER RESOURCES

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 [S1][S2].
• 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 [S1].

2. Why in the News

• 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 [S1].
• 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%) [S2].

3. Background & Evolution

• 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) [S1].
• 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 [S1].

4. Core Static Facts

• Surface water (river basins): 2116 BCM average annual availability — CWC 2024 study [S1].
• Groundwater recharge (2025): 448.52 BCM; Extractable: 407.75 BCM [S1].
• Groundwater recharge (2024): 446.90 BCM; Extractable: 406.19 BCM; Extraction: 245.64 BCM; Stage of Extraction (SoE): 60.47% [S2].
• Total assessment units (2024): 6,746 (Blocks/Mandals/Talukas); 4,951 (73.4%) categorised 'Safe' [S2].
• 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 [S1][S2].
• 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).

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic - Agriculture consumes ~80–85% of extracted groundwater; declining SoE from 2022 marginally improves irrigation security [S2]. - 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 [S2]. - Climate variability alters monsoon-fed recharge — affecting the 2116 BCM headline figure year-on-year [S1].

Federal / Administrative - Joint CGWB–State assessment exemplifies cooperative federalism; quality of data depends on State piezometer network density [S2]. - 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.

6. Recent Developments

• 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) [S1].
• 31 Dec 2024 — Release of Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment 2024 — 73.4% units Safe, SoE 60.47% [S2].
• Annual assessment cycle institutionalised from 2022 — first time India moves from periodic to yearly groundwater accounting [S1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Average annual water resources in Indian river basins: 2116 BCM (CWC, 2024) [S1].
• Annual groundwater recharge (2025): 448.52 BCM [S1].
• Annual extractable groundwater resource (2025): 407.75 BCM [S1].
• Annual groundwater extraction (2024): 245.64 BCM [S2].
• Stage of Ground Water Extraction (2024): 60.47% [S2].
• Total assessment units (2024): 6,746; Safe units: 4,951 (73.4%) [S2].
• Surface water assessment study title: "Assessment of Water Resources of India-2024" by Central Water Commission [S1].
• Groundwater assessed jointly by CGWB and State Governments [S1].
• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti [S1].
• 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 [S1].

8. Mains Relevance

• 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."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• 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.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing Total Recharge (448.52) with Extractable Resource (407.75) — the latter excludes natural discharge [S1].
• Attributing groundwater assessment to CWC — it is CGWB; surface to CWC [S1].
• 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 [S1].
• Mixing up 2024 (446.90 BCM) and 2025 (448.52 BCM) recharge figures.

11. Sources

• [S1] AVAILABILITY OF SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER RESOURCES — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2223850 — (tier: 1)
• [S2] Union Minister of Jal Shakti Releases Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report 2024 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2089039 — (tier: 1)