According to the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) report on global water resources in 2025, India is experiencing a sustained decline in groundwater levels. This serious concern highlights the disruption of the country's water balance.
In several regions of India, particularly in the northern and northwestern parts, the drop in water levels has persisted for many years. The report indicates a constant deficit of groundwater from 2022 to 2025. This means that the volume of water extracted from the ground exceeds the volume returned to the aquifers, leading to a disruption of water equilibrium.
Although the problem is not limited to India, its consequences could be far more severe in a densely populated nation like India. Agriculture heavily relies on groundwater for irrigation, and urban access to drinking water also depends on it.
The report states that in 2025, groundwater levels were below normal or very low at 34 percent of monitoring stations worldwide, an increase compared to 25 percent in 2024. Meanwhile, the level remained above normal at 31 percent of stations. This data was obtained from regions where a monitoring system operates. A similar trend is observed in India.
In 2025, surface water storage in North India was below average. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo warned that humanity is 'draining its savings account.' Globally, there has been a trend of declining surface water storage from 2014 to 2016, representing a decade-long signal. The situation with groundwater is developing similarly: in 2025, approximately two-thirds of observed wells recorded conditions different from the historical average, with a clear tendency towards decline.
The main reason for the groundwater problem in India is excessive extraction. Pumping equipment, such as tunnel and bore wells, is actively used in agriculture. Crops such as wheat and rice require large amounts of water. The crisis has become particularly acute in states like Punjab and Haryana. The report explicitly states that the primary cause in many areas is over-abstraction.
Water replenishment occurs through the infiltration of rainwater into the ground, but if extraction remains high, the level continues to fall. Furthermore, drought and irregular monsoons in recent years have negatively affected replenishment. Rivers also experienced one of the driest periods in over three decades in 2025, indicating pressure on the entire water cycle.
The WMO report, now in its fifth year, clearly shows long-term trends, including the continuous decline of groundwater and prolonged drought. It also notes that glaciers are losing their snow cover for the fourth consecutive year. All these signs point to a reduction in freshwater on the planet.
In a country like India, where the population is growing and agriculture is the backbone of the economy, the decline in groundwater levels could jeopardize food security. Water shortages will increase in cities, irrigation will become more expensive, and the burden on small farmers will grow. In some areas, wells are already drying up, forcing people to extract water from greater depths, which increases electricity and diesel fuel costs.
To overcome this crisis, simply warning is not enough; active implementation of water conservation methods, such as rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation technologies, is necessary. It is also possible to promote changes in crop rotation in favor of less water-intensive crops. More efficient use of canals and surface water can also help.
The report emphasizes the need to strengthen global water resource monitoring. If regular observation is increased in more areas in India, a more accurate picture can be obtained. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, future water availability may decrease, affecting the economy, healthcare, and environment.
Considering the WMO warning, political figures, farmers, and the general public must work together to restore the water balance. Groundwater is our hidden capital, and its preservation is a guarantee of future well-being.
