9 February 2026·PIB

MONITORING SYSTEM FOR GROUNDWATER

In this note

1. At a Glance

Real-time groundwater surveillance grid run by Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) via Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), using telemetry-enabled Digital Water Level Recorders (DWLRs) [1][2].
Backbone schemes: Ground Water Monitoring & Regulation (GWM&R) Scheme, National Hydrology Project (NHP) and Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY) [1].
Examinable as a S&T + Governance + Environment intersection — feeds into the annual Dynamic Ground Water Resources Assessment used for policy on water-stressed blocks [1][3].

PIB release (09 Feb 2026) by MoJS detailed progressive digitisation of groundwater monitoring through DWLRs with telemetry across nearly all States/UTs [1].
Post-monsoon 2024 Dynamic Assessment showed ~54.4% of analysed wells with rising water levels vs. previous 5-year mean [3].

CGWB (under MoJS, Department of Water Resources, RD & GR) is the nodal scientific agency for groundwater monitoring [1][2].
Earlier: manual water-level readings 4 times/year (Jan, May, Aug, Nov) at observation wells; gradual transition to automated telemetric DWLRs under NHP and ABY [2].
NAQUIM (National Aquifer Mapping & Management Programme) added 7,000 piezometers + DWLRs for network strengthening [2].
Atal Bhujal Yojana launched (World Bank-supported) for demand-side, community-led groundwater management in water-stressed areas [3][4].
India-WRIS sub-portal "Jal Dharohar" operational since Nov 2023 for geo-tagged water-body database [3].

Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti — Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation [1].
Nodal body: Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) [1][2].
Monitoring network (CGWB): ~27,000 monitoring stations for water level and ~20,000 stations for water quality [2].
DWLRs with telemetry installed: ~22,000 under NHP + ABY [2].
Assessment: Dynamic Ground Water Resources assessed annually by CGWB jointly with States/UTs [1].
Atal Bhujal Yojana coverage: 8,203 water-stressed Gram Panchayats across 229 blocks, 80 districts, in 7 States — Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, UP [4].
ABY funding: World Bank-assisted (50% loan + 50% Government of India) [4].
NAQUIM: 7,000 piezometers + DWLRs for aquifer-level monitoring [2].

Scientific / Technological

DWLRs use pressure transducers + GSM/GPRS telemetry to push readings to central servers in real time, replacing quarterly manual readings [1][2].
Integrated with India-WRIS GIS portal — "Jal Dharohar" consolidates data from ABY, Jal Shakti Abhiyan etc. [3].

Administrative / Federal

Water is a State subject (Entry 17, List II); CGWB acts via cooperative federalism — joint assessment with State Ground Water Departments [1].
ABY operates through Gram Panchayat-level Water Security Plans, devolving demand-side management [4].

Environmental

Real-time data enables identification of "over-exploited", "critical", "semi-critical" and "safe" assessment units in the Dynamic Assessment [3].
2024 post-monsoon assessment: ~54.4% wells rising; recharge improvements attributed partly to ABY interventions [3].

Economic

Targeted regulation curbs unsustainable extraction in agriculture (>85% of groundwater draft); precise data underpins MSP / cropping advisories.

Governance / Ethical

Open data via India-WRIS supports transparency and citizen accountability in water management [3].

09 Feb 2026 — PIB statement: DWLRs with telemetry installed across almost all States/UTs under GWM&R, NHP, ABY [1].
2025 — PIB note on National Groundwater Monitoring Infrastructure confirms 22,000 telemetric DWLRs + 27,000 monitoring stations [2].
2024 Post-monsoon Dynamic Assessment — 54.4% wells showed rising levels vs. 5-yr mean [3].
Nov 2023 — "Jal Dharohar" sub-portal launched on India-WRIS [3].

DWLR = Digital Water Level Recorder; uses telemetry (GSM/GPRS) for real-time data [1].
CGWB is under Ministry of Jal Shakti, NOT MoEFCC [1].
~27,000 groundwater level monitoring stations nationwide [2].
~20,000 groundwater quality monitoring stations [2].
~22,000 telemetric DWLRs installed under NHP + ABY [2].
NAQUIM = National Aquifer Mapping & Management Programme — adds 7,000 piezometers [2].
Atal Bhujal Yojana — World Bank-assisted; covers 7 States: Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, UP [4].
ABY covers 8,203 Gram Panchayats in 229 blocks, 80 districts [4].
Dynamic Ground Water Resources Assessment is conducted annually by CGWB with State governments [1].
Jal Dharohar sub-portal on India-WRIS since November 2023 [3].
ABY funding pattern: 50% World Bank loan + 50% Centre (no State share for technical component) [4].
2024 post-monsoon: 54.4% of analysed wells showed rising water levels [3].
Categories of assessment units: Safe, Semi-critical, Critical, Over-exploited [3].

GS-III — Conservation, environmental pollution; water resources; S&T applications in governance.
GS-II — Cooperative federalism (water as State subject); centrally sponsored schemes.
Possible question stems:
"Real-time groundwater monitoring is the cornerstone of sustainable aquifer management. Discuss India's progress with reference to DWLRs and India-WRIS." (GS-III, 15M)
"Evaluate the participatory approach of Atal Bhujal Yojana in addressing India's groundwater crisis." (GS-II/III, 10M)
"Examine the role of CGWB and the Dynamic Ground Water Resources Assessment in policy-making." (GS-III, 10M)

CGWB is under MoJS, NOT MoEFCC or Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Atal Bhujal Yojana = 7 States (not all India); often confused with Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).
Dynamic Assessment is annual since 2022 (earlier biennial/periodic).
NHP is a World Bank-supported project for surface AND groundwater data — not exclusively groundwater.
"Jal Dharohar" is a water-body database sub-portal, not a DWLR data dashboard.