SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir continues to remain among the country’s least groundwater-stressed regions, with only 24.73 per cent of its annual extractable groundwater resources being utilised in 2025, according to the latest national assessment tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. While groundwater extraction in the Union Territory increased marginally from 22.28 per cent in 2024, it remains significantly below the national average of 60.63 per cent and has improved compared to 29.47 per cent recorded in 2017.
The figures were released by the Ministry of Jal Shakti as part of the Dynamic Ground Water Resources Assessment 2025, jointly carried out by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Governments. The assessment measures the Stage of Groundwater Extraction—the proportion of annually replenishable groundwater that is extracted every year. A higher percentage indicates greater pressure on groundwater resources, making it a widely accepted national and international indicator for groundwater sustainability rather than a measure of the absolute quantity of water available. A region with abundant groundwater may still face stress if extraction is excessive, while a water-scarce region can remain sustainable if withdrawals are limited.
For Jammu and Kashmir, the assessment indicates that groundwater remains under relatively low pressure despite a small year-on-year increase of 2.46 percentage points. Compared to 2017, however, the stage of groundwater extraction has fallen by 4.74 percentage points, suggesting an overall improvement in groundwater sustainability over the longer term.
Nationally, the assessment presents a mixed picture. Of the 6,762 groundwater assessment units—covering blocks, taluks and mandals across the country—730 units (10.8 per cent) have been classified as over-exploited, where groundwater extraction exceeds annual recharge.
Another 201 units (2.97 per cent) fall in the critical category, 758 units (11.21 per cent) are semi-critical, while 4,946 units (73.14 per cent) remain in the safe category. An additional 127 units (1.88 per cent) have been categorised as saline because of groundwater quality issues.
The Ministry said the national Stage of Groundwater Extraction increased only marginally from 60.48 per cent in 2024 to 60.63 per cent in 2025, indicating that groundwater use remained broadly stable over the past year. More significantly, the national extraction stage has declined from 63.33 per cent in 2017, reflecting an overall improvement in groundwater management over the past eight years.
The assessment also highlights sharp regional contrasts. Punjab (156.36 per cent), Rajasthan (147.11 per cent) and Haryana (136.75 per cent) continue to extract groundwater far in excess of annual recharge, indicating severe dependence on underground water resources. Delhi also remains under considerable stress with an extraction stage of 92.10 per cent.
By contrast, several northeastern states continue to report extremely low groundwater extraction, including Arunachal Pradesh (0.41 per cent), Mizoram (4.03 per cent), Nagaland (4.72 per cent), Meghalaya (5.24 per cent) and Sikkim (5.87 per cent). Jammu and Kashmir’s 24.73 per cent places it among the states and Union Territories with comparatively comfortable groundwater availability.
The Ministry attributed the gradual national improvement to a series of water conservation programmes implemented with state governments. It said more than two crore water conservation and artificial recharge works have been completed under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, while over 1.55 crore groundwater recharge and storage structures have been created under the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative, which was launched in 2024 and expanded through the Catch the Rain campaign in June 2026.
Other interventions include the Atal Bhujal Yojana, implemented across 8,203 water-stressed gram panchayats in 80 districts of seven states, the construction or rejuvenation of nearly 69,000 Amrit Sarovars, promotion of micro-irrigation through the Per Drop More Crop programme, scientific groundwater mapping under NAQUIM 2.0, and implementation of the Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater.
The Ministry reiterated that groundwater is a State subject, with primary responsibility for its management resting with state governments, while the Centre provides technical and financial assistance through national programmes aimed at improving groundwater recharge, water conservation and sustainable use.
