Ground water assessment 2024: stage of extraction at 60.47%, 73.4% of units safe
Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil released the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report 2024 on 31 December 2024.
Summary
The Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report 2024 was released by Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil in New Delhi on 31 December 2024. Prepared jointly by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and the States/UTs, the assessment puts India's total annual ground water recharge at 446.90 billion cubic metres (BCM) and extractable resource at 406.19 BCM, against an annual extraction of 245.64 BCM, giving a stage of extraction of 60.47%. Of 6,746 assessment units, 4,951 (73.4%) are safe, 711 semi-critical, 206 critical, 751 over-exploited and 127 saline. Compared with 2017, recharge has risen by 15 BCM and extraction has fallen by 3 BCM, while recharge from tanks, ponds and water conservation structures rose from 13.98 BCM to 25.34 BCM.
Key facts
- Released
- 31 December 2024 by C.R. Patil, Union Minister of Jal Shakti
- Annual recharge
- 446.90 BCM
- Extractable resource
- 406.19 BCM
- Annual extraction
- 245.64 BCM
- Stage of extraction
- 60.47%
- Units (6,746)
- Safe 4,951 (73.4%), Semi-critical 711, Critical 206, Over-exploited 751, Saline 127
- Since 2017
- Recharge +15 BCM; extraction −3 BCM; safe units 62.6% → 73.4%; over-exploited 17.24% → 11.13%
- Tanks/ponds/WCS recharge
- 13.98 BCM (2017) → 25.34 BCM (2024)
Practice MCQs 3 questions
According to the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment Report 2024 released on 31 December 2024, what is India's overall stage of ground water extraction?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 60.47%
PIB (Jal Shakti): annual extraction of 245.64 BCM against an extractable resource of 406.19 BCM gives a stage of extraction of 60.47%; 73.4% is the share of safe units and 11.13% the share of over-exploited units.
Out of 6,746 assessment units in the 2024 ground water assessment, how many were categorised as 'Over-exploited'?
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Correct answer: A — 751
PIB (Jal Shakti): 751 units are over-exploited; 206 are critical, 711 semi-critical and 127 saline, with 4,951 safe.
Consider the following statements about the 2024 ground water assessment compared with the 2017 assessment: 1. Total annual recharge increased by 15 BCM. 2. Annual extraction increased by 3 BCM. 3. Recharge from tanks, ponds and water conservation structures rose from 13.98 BCM to 25.34 BCM. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 and 3 only
PIB (Jal Shakti): recharge rose by 15 BCM and extraction fell (not rose) by 3 BCM; recharge from tanks, ponds and WCS rose from 13.98 BCM to 25.34 BCM. So statements 1 and 3 are correct.