India’s GDP is growing as are aspirations of the people. Both require water. And herein lies the challenge of the balance: How to meet increasing demand when water is running out, quantitively and qualitatively?

India is one of the top countries at risk because of water scarcity, floods, water pollution and climate change. The multiple and complex water challenges range from too little (water scarcity) to too much (floods), increasing water salinity and pollution. There is unequal access and uneven availability. Exacerbating these challenges is climate change. Almost 600 million people are experiencing high to extreme water stress. The country now ranks 120 of 122 countries in the water quality index. A holistic view to understand the nature of the problem is critical for its sustainable and equitable resolution. 

India continues to extract water faster than natural recharge. Groundwater forms the backbone of India’s water security, and as the largest groundwater extractor in the world, accounts for 25 per cent of global groundwater extraction. Nearly 62 per cent in irrigation, 85 per cent in rural water supply and 45 per cent in urban water supply is met through groundwater.

In 2023, nearly 70 per cent of groundwater sources were reported contaminated. Excessive nitrate was found in 440 districts, excessive fluoride in 469 districts across 27 states, arsenic in 230 districts across 25 states, and uranium contamination in seven states. Other contamination includes industrial chemicals, iron and heavy metals. The capital city of Delhi has uranium, lead, nitrate, fluoride and biological contamination in its groundwater.

Groundwater salinity is increasing in coastal areas and in semi-arid and arid regions, particularly in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana. The 11,098 km-long India coastline is being ‘invaded’ by the invisible seepage of seawater into freshwater resources, due to excessive groundwater extraction and/or global warming-induced rising seas. This silent invasion is corroding the foundation of physical infrastructure.  

Too many rivers are drying up, and too fast. The Ganga is drying up faster than it did in the last 1,300 years. River catchments are also drying: 60 per cent of 55 catchments across 17 river basins, including the Kaveri and Godavari studied in Peninsular India are drying. Springs and forest rivers are drying. Small nallahs and streams that contributed to larger rivers are disappearing.

Rivers are at the receiving end of pollutants such as sewage, solid waste, plastic, heavy metals, antibiotics, fertilisers and pesticides, organic chemicals and forever chemicals from where these enter the ecosystem, our drinking water, food chain and our bodies.

The problems don’t end here. Drought has increased in frequency, intensity and area over the years. There is a 57 per cent increase in area affected by drought since 1997. Between 2000-2019, there was also an increase in ecological drought, affecting vegetation and croplands. There is also an increase in flood affected areas, the frequency and intensity, affecting an increasing number of populations, livestock, croplands and livelihoods. As climate change is feeding into these crises, in 2022, analysis indicates that India suffered 8 per cent GDP loss due to climate change, estimated to reach 24.7 per cent by 2070.

Health implications of poor water quality range include skin disorders, organ failure, bone and teeth deformity, spontaneous abortion, malnourished newborns, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, psychological problems, and premature death. Water disasters affect physical and mental health and give rise to stress. The social fabric is affected, increasing vulnerability. Droughts affect expecting mothers and their unborn and the impacts are intergenerational. Incidences of spontaneous abortion increase, the babies born are more inclined to be of low birth as compared to the average. Social evils such as child brides, trafficking increase. Threat of physical and sexual abuse looms large. Poor health and disease hit the pocket hard, eating into savings and increase indebtedness. Poor water quality affects the GDP as well.

GDP growth requires water across sectors. As GDP grows, so will aspirations and standard of living, both of which require water.  In a time of increasing needs, we are in a situation with declining per capita water availability. In 2021, the per capita water availability was 1,486 cubic metres (cum) which is a water stressed situation, which declined to 1,341 as per government estimates in 2025 and is projected to decline further to 1,140 cum by 2050 bring the country closer to water scarcity. India’s water demand could be twice the available supply by 2030, with groundwater depletion accelerating sharply, as per Niti Ayog. 

A January 2026 UN report informs that the world has entered a state of water bankruptcy, where water currency has been used up, perhaps to a point of no return. This scenario calls for serious contemplation and action. Upfront, there is a need to replenish and shore up water resources, possible through efficient rainwater conservation and management, clean up water resources and scale up its efficient use.  

The government will need to make wise choices for sectoral growth. Questions to ask should include: What will be the impact of a particular development activity on water?  Where is the water going to come from, what is the water footprint? How will this ‘new’ water use affect nearby communities and their livelihoods? What will be the quantum of wastewater generated and how will this be reused? What will the pollutants be and how will these be effectively and sustainably taken care off? Great caution needs to be exercised to cater to the demands of the ‘new kid’ on the block, Artificial Intelligence. 

There is life in water, and life because of water. Meeting aspirations cannot be through GDP alone: Well-being and making life worth living for all, is what it’s all about. Tried and tested solutions are simple, but sometimes, hard decisions need to be taken, and approaches to development carefully weighed. 

The need to develop a water sensitive conscience and consciousness could never be stronger. 

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