In India, achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is on the agenda of the Government. By 2030, India is mandated to substantially improve water use efficiency (WUE) across all sectors, and substantially, by saving water, reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity. By 2050, India’s water demand (1180 Billion Cubic Meter (bcm) will exceed its water supply (1126 bcm). The per capita water supply has declined over the years, reached the water stressed level (1465 cu m) in 2024, and will be touching the water scarce level in the coming years.

India, moving towards Viksit Bharat 2047, will need more water for higher economic growth, and for meeting water demand of its increasing population. Unlike in higher income countries which use more water in industry, lower income countries use more water in agriculture irrigation. The UN World Water Development Report 2025 says that across countries, the agri sector dominates the total water withdrawal (72 per cent), followed by industry (15 per cent), and domestic use (13 per cent). This trend is also seen in India. To meet the increasing water demand, all countries are moving towards increasing WUE (Water Use Efficiency) measures to save water.

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UN Water Report 2021 shows that the WUE score all over the world is US$21 per cu m while in India it is only US$3.13 per cu m. For the agri sector and service sector in India, this score is not satisfactory. In India, there is a need to improve WUE in all sectors, especially the agri sector whose contribution to economic growth and employment generation is substantial. The WUE in surface water irrigation in India is the lowest at 36 per cent (MoJS 2023). With full WUE in agriculture, a saving of 146 bcm water is estimated, and if the National Water Mission’s (NWM) goal of achieving 20 per cent WUE is followed in the agricultural sector, 112 bcm water resources could be........

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