India, home to 18% of the world’s population, holds only 4% of its groundwater, which is being extracted at an alarming rate. Over the past 70 years, per capita groundwater availability has declined by 25%. A 2021 Comptroller and Auditor General report warns that if extraction surpasses recharge rates, 80% of drinking water supplies will be affected.

Agriculture accounts for 87% of groundwater extraction, with the remaining 13% used for domestic and industrial purposes. According to Niti Aayog, Indian farming consumes two to three times more water per tonne of crop than developed nations. Ageing irrigation infrastructure, with most dams built before 1990 operating at less than 50% of their storage capacity, further aggravates groundwater reliance.

The country faces challenges from water-intensive crops, inefficient irrigation, leaky distribution networks, and inadequate wastewater treatment. Rapid industrialisation and urbanisation have worsened water pollution, contaminating rivers and groundwater. The absence of an integrated national water policy further compounds the issue.

To address India’s water crisis, innovative solutions beyond traditional conservation methods are essential. The government’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) proposes a green credit programme modelled after carbon credits, incentivising........

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