Roadmap for Answer Writing
- Introduction
- Briefly define the groundwater crisis in India.
- Mention its significance in the context of agriculture, urbanization, and population growth.
- Current Scenario
- Present key statistics on groundwater extraction and dependency.
- Highlight the over-exploited regions and their implications.
- Key Factors Contributing to the Crisis
- Discuss the major causes:
- Water-intensive agricultural practices.
- Population growth and urbanization.
- Climate change and erratic rainfall.
- Industrial pollution and chemical runoff.
- Unsustainable mining practices and coastal salinity.
- Discuss the major causes:
- Government Initiatives
- Mention existing government programs aimed at groundwater management (e.g., Atal Bhujal Yojana, Jal Shakti Abhiyan).
- Evaluate their effectiveness and limitations.
- Sustainable Solutions
- Propose actionable strategies:
- Water-efficient agricultural techniques (e.g., drip irrigation).
- Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) and rainwater harvesting.
- Regulatory reforms to control extraction.
- Community engagement and awareness programs.
- Technological innovations (e.g., AI for aquifer mapping).
- Propose actionable strategies:
- Conclusion
- Emphasize the urgency of addressing the groundwater crisis.
- Call for integrated efforts from government, communities, and technology to ensure sustainable management.
For more details on the topic, read this current affairs article.
India’s groundwater crisis is driven by factors such as over-extraction, contamination, and the effects of climate change.
Key Contributing Factors
Sustainable Solutions
Effective management of groundwater will require coordinated efforts from the government, industries, and the public to ensure sustainability.
India is facing a severe groundwater crisis, largely due to over-extraction, pollution, and climate change.
Key Contributing Factors:
Sustainable Solutions:
India’s groundwater management needs urgent and coordinated efforts at local, state, and national levels to ensure long-term water sustainability.
India’s groundwater crisis is escalating due to over-extraction, pollution, and climate change.
Key Factors:
Sustainable Solutions:
India must adopt sustainable water practices to mitigate the groundwater crisis and ensure water security for the future.
Model Answer
India’s groundwater crisis is a pressing environmental challenge that threatens the sustainability of its water resources, vital for agriculture, drinking, and sanitation. With nearly 25% of the world’s groundwater being extracted, India has become the largest user globally. In 2023, the annual groundwater extraction reached 241.34 billion cubic meters, primarily for irrigation, which accounts for 62% of the agricultural water needs.
Several factors contribute to this alarming crisis:
Despite government initiatives like the Atal Bhujal Yojana and Jal Shakti Abhiyan aimed at improving groundwater management, more robust measures are required.
Sustainable solutions must include:
In conclusion, addressing India’s groundwater crisis requires immediate and coordinated action from all stakeholders. By integrating sustainable practices, community involvement, and technological advancements, India can secure its groundwater resources for future generations.