Groundwater: Govt’s Actions to Recharge, Regulate in 2025 in India

Source: (SANDRP) South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People

This overview highlights the top ten measures undertaken by various governments to protect groundwater in India in 2025. At the central level, the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) has a master plan for artificial recharge, targeting the construction of 1.42 crore structures. As per MoJS, 21 states and UTs have adopted Model Groundwater Management Bill 2020. The MoJS is also piloting pressurized irrigation systems and water accounting technologies to improve efficiency, especially in agriculture, which consumes 87% of extracted groundwater.
The central govt has earmarked 32,000 cr under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar & Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), with a focus on reviving dark zones & water-stressed regions. The implementation period of the Atal Bhujal Yojana is to end on Sept 30 2026. This scheme, launched in Dec 2019 with 50% funding from the World Bank, aimed to improve groundwater management.
State governments have also rolled out customized interventions for groundwater recharge and regulation. The Punjab government has initiated a 14-point action plan to replenish groundwater levels and has reported significant improvements in canal networks and micro-irrigation resulting in reduced dependence on groundwater. In Haryana, the government has announced an Integrated Water Resources Action Plan, aiming to save around 6 Million Cubic Meters of water by 2027. The plan, with a special focus on agriculture and irrigation sectors, mandates 42 interventions to improve groundwater recharge, farming practices, water harvesting, and wastewater management.

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