पत्र सूचना कार्यालय

Water constitutes a fundamental determinant of environmental sustainability and human well-being. The availability, distribution, and management of water resources are critical to sustaining growth across sectors. According to the study “Reassessment of Water Availability in India using Space Inputs, 2019”, conducted by the Central Water Commission, India receives an average annual precipitation of about 3,880 Billion Cubic Metres (BCM). After accounting for natural losses such as evaporation and other factors, the average annual water available in the country is estimated at 1,999.20 BCM.

The average annual water availability of a country depends largely on hydrometeorological and geological factors. However, per capita water availability depends on population size. With the continuous rise in population, per capita water availability in India is steadily declining, increasing pressure on existing water resources.

India has 17.5 percent of the global population and 11.6 percent of the world’s livestock. This creates significant demand on water resources. Agriculture accounts for 80 to 90 percent of water use in rural areas.

The growing stress on limited water resources has resulted in declining groundwater levels, seasonal water shortages, and increasing conflicts over water allocation. All these challenges highlight the need to move away from a supply-driven approach towards demand-based and planned water management systems. In this context, water budgeting has emerged as a significant tool for sustainable development in water-stressed regions where scarcity and uneven distribution threaten economic stability, food security, and climate resilience.

Water budgeting involves a systematic assessment of water availability and demand within a defined geographical unit. These include village, watershed, block, or district, with the objective of balancing water use with renewable availability.

At its core, water budgeting involves the calculation of all water inputs, including rainfall, surface inflows, and groundwater recharge, against evapotranspiration, runoff, and groundwater discharge. Beyond basic accounting, a comprehensive water budget helps understand the movement and distribution of water within the natural environment. This includes the interaction between surface water and groundwater systems, seasonal variations in rainfall and recharge, and the impact of human activities such as agriculture, urbanization, and industrial use.

It can be applied at different scales from individual farms and villages to entire watersheds and river basins. This enables the preparation of location-specific water management plans based on local conditions, resource availability, and demand patterns. Such planning becomes particularly important in regions facing groundwater depletion, seasonal shortages, floods, or climate-related uncertainties.

From a governance perspective, water budgeting supports informed and evidence-based decision-making. It identifies surplus and deficit areas and enables efficient water allocation across agriculture, domestic use, livestock, and industry.

The National Commission on Integrated Water Resources Development estimates that irrigation water demand in India could reach 807 BCM by 2050 under a high-demand scenario. These projections indicate growing pressure on water resources and highlight the need for improved planning and demand management.

Water budgeting helps in aligning agricultural practices with available resources. It enables informed crop planning, supporting crop selection based on local water conditions and optimised irrigation and sowing to reduce stress. Evidence from participatory water budgeting initiatives supported by NABARD shows that water-aligned crop choices enhance productivity while reducing risk exposure.

The livestock census in 2019 showed 4.6% increase from 51.2 crore in 2012 to about 53.6 crore in 2019. The cow population increasedby18%from the previous census in 2012. This increase in livestock population implies a corresponding rise in water demand for drinking, fodder production, and related activities.

Water budgeting adopts a comprehensive approach by incorporating the water requirements of allied sectors such as livestock and fisheries. Estimating livestock water demand using standard norms and integrating it into overall water assessments ensures a more balanced allocation. It thereby supports diversified and sustainable rural livelihoods.

Government programmes including Atal Bhujal Yojana and National Water Mission, highlight water budgeting as a key tool for sustainable water management.

Launched in 2019, the Atal Bhujal Yojana promotes water budgeting as a key tool for decentralized water governance at Gram Panchayat (GP). The programme is implemented on a pilot basis across 229 blocks in seven groundwater-stressed states. These states and GPs were selected based on the level of groundwater depletion, institutional readiness, existing water management systems, prior experience in groundwater conservation, and willingness to participate. The final selection of GPs was made by the respective state governments to ensure effective implementation and better outcomes. During the assessments conducted in 2023-24 and 2024-25, 180 out of 229 blocks have shown measurable improvement in groundwater levels.

The scheme promotes revival and strengthening of traditional water conservation systems, including Gokatte, Bawdi, Johad, Tanka, Kalyani, and Diggi, adapted to local contexts. As of March 2026, approximately 81,700 water conservation and recharge structures have been created or restored. The scheme mandates the annual preparation and updating of water budgets, with 8,203 budgets completed across participating Gram Panchayats.

To support this process, capacity-building initiatives have been undertaken. Over 1.25 lakh training programmes conducted across multiple levels. Demand-side interventions have been actively promoted across nearly 9 lakh hectares. This has resulted in the adoption of efficient water-use practices, such as drip and sprinkler irrigation, mulching, and crop diversification.

The National Water Mission recognises water budgeting as a foundational element of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). Water budgeting under the Mission aligns with national priorities of water conservation, sustainability, and long-term water security.

Additionally, Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti under NWM emphasizes women-led institutions, including Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Water Users’ Association (WUAs), and community groups in water conservation and management. For instance, in Udham Singh Nagar district, Uttarakhand, about 1,645 women have been trained under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Additionally, 300 women-led Village Water and Sanitation Committees are operational, and 105 awareness campaigns have been conducted by women SHGs.

The Varuni web application employs a scientifically robust yet user-friendly methodology to generate block-level water budgets. It integrates automatically sourced data from authoritative government portals, including rainfall, land use, cropping patterns, population, and water resources. This data is subsequently processed through an in-built computational framework to produce structured water budget assessments. The Varuni web application (https://wasca.in/index)was developed under the Indo-German bilateral project “Water Security and Climate Adaptation in Rural India (WASCA)”. The project is implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Rural Development, with technical support from NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India).

The Varuni web application uses a cycle-based approach. It systematically compares water availability (supply) with water requirements (demand) to generate a comprehensive water budget. It indicates whether a given block experiences a surplus or a deficit. It further provides contextual insights into local geography and water resource conditions.

All computations are executed through an automated framework, thereby minimizing manual intervention and reducing the likelihood of errors. This enables local authorities to accurately assess water scenarios and identify context-specific interventions. It includes water conservation, groundwater recharge, and the adoption of efficient irrigation practices.

Water, as a finite resource, underscores the need for better management, efficiency, and governance. The need to transition from fragmented approaches to integrated, data-driven water management becomes imperative. This is driven by rising pressures from population growth, agricultural demand, and climate variability. In this context, water budgeting stands out as a transformative instrument.

By aligning agricultural practices with local water availability, India is advancing evidence-based and participatory water governance. This is supported by strengthening community-led institutions and leveraging digital tools such as Varuni. Successful models, from Hiware Bazar to large-scale programmes such as the Atal Bhujal Yojana and the National Water Mission, demonstrate strong outcomes. They show that the convergence of policy, technology, and collective action can significantly enhance resilience in water-stressed regions. Institutionalizing water budgeting into planning processes across all levels will be essential for ensuring long-term water security, agricultural sustainability, and inclusive economic growth.

NITI Aayog

• https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-11/Water_Budgeting.pdf
• https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-08/COMPENDIUM-OF-BEST-PRACTICES-IN-WATER-MANAGEMENT-3.0_Water-Resources-Vertical_2_8_23.pdf
• https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-03/CompositeWaterManagementIndex.pdf

Ministry of Jal Shakti

• https://nwm.gov.in/sites/default/files/A%20note%20on%20State%20Water%20Budgeting%2019.3.2018.pdf

• https://nwm.gov.in/nari-shakti-se-jal-shakti
• https://sansad.in/getFile/annex/266/AU2320_quD2Mi.pdf?source=pqars
• https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2153573&reg=3&lang=2
• https://eparlib.sansad.in/bitstream/123456789/2974318/1/AU1028.pdf
• https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2155030&&reg=3&lang=2

Ministry of Finance

• https://www.nabard.org/auth/writereaddata/File/20%20_WATER_BUDGETING.pdf
• https://icrier.org/pdf/Water_Productivity_Mapping_of_Major_Indian_Crops.pdf

United Nations

• https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2024-09/progress-on-the-sustainable-development-goals-the-gender-snapshot-2024-en.pdf
• https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/water-and-sanitation/

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