SYLLABUS

GS-1: Distribution of key natural resources across the world.

GS-3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation. 

Context: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has reported increasingly erratic global water conditions, with persistent groundwater deficits in India during 2022–2025.

Understanding the State of Global Water Resources Report

• About the Report: Published annually by WMO, it provides a standardized assessment of global freshwater availability, hydrological variability and trends. The 2025 edition is its fifth edition. 

• Coverage: It assesses river discharge, groundwater, reservoirs and lakes, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, terrestrial water storage, snow and ice, water temperature and hydrological extremes. 

• Methodology: It combines in-situ observations, hydrological models and satellite observations. The 2025 edition covered data from 68 countries, including 3,115 river-discharge and 43,529 groundwater observation stations. 

Key Findings of the Report

A. Global Findings

• River Discharge: Normal discharge conditions covered only 34–38% of global basin area annually over the past seven years, against a 1991–2020 mean of 46%. 

• 2025 River Flows: 2025 was one of the driest years in 35 years for global river discharge; 36% of global catchment area was drier than normal. 

• Terrestrial Water Storage: TWS has shown a persistent decline since 2014–2016, with repeated deficits during 2021–2025 in regions including the Ganges–Indus headwaters. 

• Groundwater: 34% of monitored stations recorded below- to much-below-normal levels in 2025, compared with 25% in 2024. 

• Glaciers: Glaciers lost 408 ±132 Gt of mass in the 2025 hydrological year, marking the fourth consecutive year of mass loss across all major glaciated regions. 

• Water-Related Extremes: Asia and Africa together accounted for nearly half of recorded water-related extreme events and over 80% of reported associated deaths over the past five years. 

B. India Findings

• Groundwater Deficit: India experienced persistent groundwater deficits during 2022–2025; in 2025, north-western India showed persistent and widespread below- to much-below-normal groundwater levels. 

• Terrestrial Water Storage: Northern India recorded below-normal TWS in 2025, while the Ganges–Indus headwaters repeatedly experienced below-normal conditions during 2021–2025. 

• Surface Water Contrast: The Indus, Ganges, Godavari and Krishna basins recorded above- to much-above-normal river discharge in 2025, despite persistent groundwater stress. 

Factors Behind Groundwater Decline in India

• Over-abstraction: WMO identifies excessive groundwater abstraction as an important driver of persistent deficits in several regions. 

• Extraction–Recharge Imbalance: Intensive groundwater use, particularly for irrigation, can exceed the natural and artificial recharge of stressed aquifers. 

• Climate Variability: Changing rainfall patterns and prolonged dry periods can affect recharge, while higher evapotranspiration can increase water demand. 

• Recharge Constraints: Urbanisation and degradation of local water bodies can reduce infiltration and groundwater replenishment. 

Implications for India

• Agriculture: Persistent depletion can reduce the reliability of groundwater-dependent irrigation and increase agricultural vulnerability to drought. 

• Drinking-Water Security: Declining groundwater levels can threaten the sustainability of groundwater-based drinking-water sources, particularly during dry periods. 

• Drought Resilience: Groundwater acts as a buffer during rainfall deficits; continued depletion therefore reduces India's resilience to drought. 

• Integrated Water Security: The contrast between strong river flows and persistent groundwater deficits highlights the need to manage surface water and groundwater as interconnected resources. 

India’s Response

• NAQUIM: The National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme maps aquifers and prepares management plans for sustainable groundwater use. 

• Atal Bhujal Yojana: Promotes community-led groundwater management, including water budgeting and Water Security Plans in water-stressed areas. 

• Catch the Rain: Jal Shakti Abhiyan promotes rainwater harvesting, water conservation and groundwater recharge. 

• Mission Amrit Sarovar: Focuses on creating and rejuvenating water bodies to strengthen local water conservation and storage. 

Way Forward

• Manage Demand: Reduce unsustainable extraction through water-efficient irrigation, crop diversification and improved agricultural practices. 

• Strengthen Recharge: Protect water bodies and recharge zones while expanding scientifically designed rainwater-harvesting measures. 

• Adopt Aquifer-Based Planning: Integrate groundwater, surface water, rainfall and local water demand in planning. 

• Improve Monitoring: Expand observation networks, real-time monitoring and transparent hydrological data-sharing.