Examine the factors responsible for depleting groundwater in India. What are the steps taken by the government to mitigate such depletion of groundwater?

Supplies the latest data on depletion, its governance causes and the government's mitigation steps.

• The 2025 assessment put the national stage of extraction at 60.63%, with 730 of 6,762 units (10.8%) over-exploited; Punjab was at 156.36%, Rajasthan 147.11% and Haryana 136.75%.
• Blame free or flat-rate farm power, MSP and procurement favouring paddy and sugarcane, groundwater rights tied to land, and weak CGWA enforcement.
• Steps include Atal Bhujal Yojana, Mission Amrit Sarovar for aquifer recharge and micro-irrigation, with the Model Groundwater Bill proposing aquifers as a common resource.