Districts in India with Limited Water Resources

What are They?

Areas where groundwater usage surpasses replenishment or where water supply is alarmingly scarce.

Categorized by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) as:

Exploited excessively (102 districts)

Crucial (22 districts)

Semi-critical (69 regions)

Trends in India:

Escalating Stress: Growing urbanization, farming, and industrial needs have intensified water stress.

Geographic Distribution: Regions such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka experience the most significant stress.

Jal Shakti Abhiyan (2019–2025): A mission-driven initiative targeting water-scarce and high-priority districts with themes such as “Catch the Rain” and “Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti.”

Importance:

Drinking Water Safety: Shields both rural and urban communities from deficits.

Climate Adaptation: Enhances ability to withstand droughts and unpredictable rainfall.

Policy Planning: Supplies data for Jal Jeevan Mission, Atal Bhujal Yojana, and SDG-6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).