Transformative impact of various groundwater recharge and water conservation measures on different aquifer systems in India

Groundwater contributes to 9% of India's GDP; 64% of irrigation, 85% of rural water supply and over 50% of urban water demand. Over the last decade, 54% of India's shallow wells became defunct due to declining groundwater levels and thus deep wells have been constructed. This shift to deeper wells has led to more groundwater withdrawal than natural recharge resulting in over-extraction. Most of States and Central Government agencies focus on groundwater recharge and conservation to address sustainability through schemes like Jal Shakti Abhiyan and MGNREGA. These interventions between 2017 and 2020 led to a notable 12.46 bcm increase in groundwater resources in hard-rock aquifers. This study's findings would assist policymakers and administrators in evaluating the effectiveness of schemes for different aquifer, and drawing their attention to suggests design changes for more effective recharge of groundwater.