India's groundwater crisis worsens; threatens food security, urban areas

India Dec 04, 2025

India's groundwater levels are dropping fast, putting drinking water and farming at risk.
The Central Ground Water Board says recharge fell from 449.08 to 446.9 billion cubic meters in just one year, due to a combination of shifting monsoon patterns and continued high extraction rates.

Farms and cities both feeling the heat

Farm states like Punjab and Haryana are running low on groundwater thanks to thirsty crops like rice, while cities such as Bengaluru are facing dried-up borewells and relying more on outside water sources.
In eastern India, contamination is also making things worse.
Without quick action—like smarter farming methods and stricter rules—food production and daily life could take a serious hit.