Water-Scarce Districts in India

Context: The Government released the latest data on water-scarce districts, identifying 193 districts as over-exploited, critical, or semi-critical.

About Water-Scarce Districts in India:

• What are They?

• Districts where groundwater extraction exceeds recharge or where water availability is critically low. Classified by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) as: Over-exploited (102 districts) Critical (22 districts) Semi-critical (69 districts)

• Districts where groundwater extraction exceeds recharge or where water availability is critically low.

• Classified by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) as: Over-exploited (102 districts) Critical (22 districts) Semi-critical (69 districts)

• Over-exploited (102 districts)

• Critical (22 districts)

• Semi-critical (69 districts)

• Trends in India:

• Rising Stress: Increasing urbanisation, agriculture, and industrial demand have deepened water stress. Geographic Spread: States like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka face the highest pressure. Jal Shakti Abhiyan (2019–2025): Mission-mode campaign covering water-stressed and high-priority districts with themes like “Catch the Rain” and “Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti”.

• Rising Stress: Increasing urbanisation, agriculture, and industrial demand have deepened water stress.

• Geographic Spread: States like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka face the highest pressure.

• Jal Shakti Abhiyan (2019–2025): Mission-mode campaign covering water-stressed and high-priority districts with themes like “Catch the Rain” and “Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti”.

• Significance:

• Drinking Water Security: Protects rural and urban populations from shortages. Climate Adaptation: Strengthens resilience against droughts and erratic rainfall. Policy Planning: Provides evidence for Jal Jeevan Mission, Atal Bhujal Yojana, and SDG-6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

• Drinking Water Security: Protects rural and urban populations from shortages.

• Climate Adaptation: Strengthens resilience against droughts and erratic rainfall.

• Policy Planning: Provides evidence for Jal Jeevan Mission, Atal Bhujal Yojana, and SDG-6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Relevance in UPSC Syllabus:

• GS Paper 1 (Geography): Water scarcity, resource distribution, regional disparities.

• GS Paper 2 (Governance): Government schemes like Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Centre–State coordination.

• GS Paper 3 (Environment & Economy): Sustainable water management, agriculture–water nexus, climate impact.