Important For:

UPSC / HCS / PCS Aspirants

GS Paper 2: Governance & Public Policy
GS Paper 3: Environment, Water Resources, Sustainable Development

Why in News?

A recent analysis discussed how India is managing its water resources amid:

⚠️ Groundwater depletion
⚠️ Water scarcity
⚠️ Climate change impacts
⚠️ Rising urban and agricultural demand

The article highlighted the need for:
➤ Sustainable water governance
➤ Efficient irrigation
➤ Community participation

Infographic explaining India’s water resource challenges, policies, conservation, and future strategy. — An infographic highlighting India’s water governance and resource management strategy.

India’s Water Crisis at a Glance

India faces a major water challenge because:

Population demand is rising
Groundwater is declining
Rivers are polluted
Climate variability affects rainfall

Despite having:
➤ 18% of the world’s population

India has only:
➤ Around 4% of global freshwater resources.

Key Water Governance Challenges

1. Groundwater Depletion

India is the world’s largest user of groundwater.

Excessive extraction for:

Agriculture
Urban consumption
Industries

has created severe stress.

2. Unequal Water Distribution

Some regions face:
✔ Floods

while others suffer:
❌ Droughts and scarcity

3. Pollution of Water Bodies

Industrial waste, sewage, and chemicals pollute:

Rivers
Lakes
Groundwater

4. Climate Change Impact

Irregular monsoons and rising temperatures worsen:
⚠️ Water insecurity
⚠️ Agricultural stress

How India Governs Water Resources

Water governance involves:

Central Government
State Governments
Local bodies
River basin authorities

Constitutional Position

Water is mainly a:
➤ State subject

under the Indian Constitution.

However, the Centre plays a role in:

Inter-state rivers
National missions
Policy coordination

Major Government Initiatives

1. Jal Jeevan Mission

Aim:
➤ Provide tap water connections to rural households.

2. Atal Bhujal Yojana

Focuses on:
✔ Groundwater management
✔ Community participation

3. PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)

Objective:
➤ Improve irrigation efficiency.

4. Namami Gange Programme

Focused on:
✔ River cleaning
✔ Pollution control
✔ Ganga rejuvenation

Sustainable Water Management Approaches

Rainwater Harvesting

Helps recharge groundwater.

Micro-Irrigation

Includes:

Drip irrigation
Sprinkler systems

to reduce water wastage.

Wastewater Recycling

Treated wastewater can be reused for:

Agriculture
Industries

Community Participation

Local communities improve:
✔ Water conservation
✔ Resource management

Circular Water Economy

India is increasingly focusing on:
➤ Reuse + recycle + conservation

instead of excessive extraction.

Key Concerns

Urban Water Stress

Cities face:

High demand
Leakage losses
Poor planning

Agricultural Overuse

Agriculture consumes nearly:
➤ 80% of India’s freshwater.

Fragmented Governance

Multiple agencies often create:
❌ Coordination problems

Way Forward

India needs:

✔ Integrated water resource management
✔ Efficient irrigation systems
✔ Strong groundwater regulation
✔ Pollution control
✔ Water conservation awareness

Special Note for Aspirants

Students preparing through UPSC Coaching Chandigarh and IAS Coaching Chandigarh should focus on:

Water governance
Sustainable development
Climate resilience
Groundwater crisis

These themes are highly important for:
✔ GS Paper 3
✔ Essay
✔ Interview preparation

Analytical Insight

India’s future water security depends not only on:
➤ Availability of water

but also on:
➤ Governance efficiency and sustainable usage.

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q1. Water is listed under which category in the Indian Constitution?

A. Union List
B. State List
C. Concurrent List
D. Residual List

✅ Answer: B

Q2. Which scheme focuses on groundwater management?

A. PMGSY
B. Atal Bhujal Yojana
C. UDAY
D. Smart Cities Mission