**Executive Summary**
This document presents the response from the Minister of State for Jal Shakti to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha on February 12, 2026, regarding groundwater extraction in the Churu district. The response addresses the assessment of groundwater resources, particularly concerning over-exploited and critical blocks. It mentions the latest assessment report of 2025 and the steps taken by the government.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Groundwater Assessment:**
* The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) annually assesses dynamic ground water resources in coordination with State Governments.
* Comparison of data from 2017 to 2025 shows improvement in overall ground water situation at the national level.
* 'Safe' Assessment Units (SAUs) increased from 62.6% to 73.14%.
* ‘Over-Exploited' Units decreased from 17.2% to 10.8%.
* 'Critical' Units declined from 4.5% to 2.97%.
* **Rajasthan Groundwater Status (2025 Assessment):**
* Out of 302 Assessment Units (Blocks) in Rajasthan:
* 213 (70.53%) are categorized as ‘Over-exploited’.
* 23 (7.62%) are categorized as 'Critical'.
* District-wise details are available via a provided link: https://cgwb.gov.in/cgwbpnm/download/1741#page=242
* **Churu District Groundwater Status (2025 Assessment):**
* Out of 07 assessment units (Blocks):
* 05 are categorized as Over-Exploited.
* 01 unit is categorized as Safe.
* 01 unit is categorized as Saline.
* **Government Initiatives and Fund Allocation:**
* Sustainable water management is primarily the responsibility of State Governments, with the Central Government facilitating efforts.
* Block categorization enables targeted actions in Over-exploited, Critical, and Semi-critical areas.
* Government schemes/programmes include Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB), Atal Bhujal Yojana, MGNREGS, etc.
* Under the ‘National Initiative on Water Security' (September 2025), at least 65% of MGNREGS funds are to be spent on water conservation works in Over-Exploited and Critical Blocks and 40% in Semi-critical Blocks.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments**
* **Impact:** State Governments are primarily responsible for the sustainable development and management of water resources.
* **Action Required:** Implement schemes and projects to address groundwater stress, utilizing the provided technical and financial assistance from the Central Government.
**Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)**
* **Impact:** CGWB is responsible for annual dynamic ground water resource assessment.
* **Action Required:** Continue annual assessments and collaborate with State Governments.
**Residents/Stakeholders in Over-Exploited and Critical Blocks**
* **Impact:** Directly affected by water conservation efforts and the targeted actions in these areas.
* **Action Required:** Participate in water conservation and management schemes.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB): The agency responsible for assessing ground water resources in India.
Churu district: A district in Rajasthan with significant groundwater extraction issues.
Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): A Government of India initiative for water conservation.
Atal Bhujal Yojana: A scheme for groundwater recharging.
MGNREGS: A rural employment scheme, a portion of whose funds are allocated to water conservation in critical blocks.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2202
ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026
GROUNDWATER EXTRACTION IN CHURU DISTRICT
†2202. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the latest assessment published by the Central Ground Water Board has recorded an increase
in the number of over-exploited and critical stressed groundwater blocks at the national level;
(b) if so, the details and the number of such groundwater blocks identified in the latest assessment in
Rajasthan;
(c) whether district-wise data indicate that the groundwater extraction in the groundwater blocks located
in Churu district exceeds the recharge level and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Union budget allocations under schemes such as the Atal Bhujal Yojana and Groundwater
Recharging Programmes have been made in accordance with the recorded groundwater stress
classifications and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) Dynamic Ground Water Resources of the country are being assessed annually by the Central Ground Water
Board (CGWB) in co-ordination with the State Governments. Upon comparison of data between years 2017 and
2025, it is seen that overall ground water situation of the country has steadily improved with percentage of ‘Safe’
Assessment Units (SAUs), which are generally Blocks/Taluks/Tehsils, or valleys in hilly regions) increasing from
62.6% to 73.14% and ‘Over-Exploited’ Units decreasing from 17.2% to 10.8%. Further, ‘Critical’ Units have also
declined from 4.5% to 2.97% during this period.
(b) As per the latest assessment report of 2025, for the State of Rajasthan, out of the total 302 Assessment Units
(Blocks), 213 (70.53%) units have been categorized as ‘Over- exploited’ and 23 (7.62%) assessment units have
been categorized as ‘Critical’.
The district-wise details of of Over Exploited and Critical Blocks in Rajasthan State as per the Dynamic
Ground Water Resource Assessment Report, 2025 is accessible through the following link:
https://cgwb.gov.in/cgwbpnm/download/1741#page=242
(c) As per the 2025 assessment, out of 07 assessment units (Blocks) in Churu district, 05 units are categorized as
Over-Exploited (where annual ground water extraction exceeds recharge), 01 unit as Safe and 01 unit as Saline.
1(d) Water’ being a State subject, sustainable development and management of water including groundwater
resources is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments. The Central Government, on its part, facilitates
the efforts of the State Governments by way of technical and financial assistance through its various schemes and
projects.
The categorization of blocks based on the dynamic ground water resource assessment enables targeted actions,
prioritizing intensive supply and demand measures—like recharge and micro-irrigation—in Over-exploited,
Critical, and Semi-critical (OCS) areas, under various ground water conservation and management
schemes/programmes of the Government like Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB), Atal
Bhujal Yojana, MGNREGS etc.
Importantly, during September, 2025, under the ‘National Initiative on Water Security’, it has been decided to
spend at least 65% of MGNREGS funds on water conservation works in Over-Exploited (OE) and Critical Blocks
of the country and 40% in Semi-critical Blocks.
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