Annual Groundwater Quality Report 2025 released by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)

Posted 29 Nov 2025

2 min read

Article Summary

The 2025 report finds 71.7% of India's groundwater meets standards; nitrate, uranium, fluoride, and lead contamination pose health risks, but most water remains suitable for irrigation.

Key Findings

71.7% of India's groundwater meets BIS standards but 28.3% of samples exceed limits for one or more parameters,
Nitrate Contamination: Nitrate is most widespread pollutant nationally, with approximately 20% samples exceeding WHO and BIS limits(45 mg/L) ,followed by fluoride and salinity
- It is largely attributed to anthropogenic sources, e.g. fertilizer use and sewage and animal waste seeping in groundwater.
Uranium contamination: Samples with uranium levels above the safe limit of 30 ppb were found at 6.71% during the Pre-Monsoon and 7.91% during post-monsoon.
- Punjab recorded highest contamination, followed by Haryana and Delhi
Salinity: Salinity (Electrical Conductivity,) is a critical issue in arid and semi-arid regions like Rajasthan and Delhi, exceeding limits in 7.23% of samples.,
Fluoride - 8.05% of nationwide samples exceeded limit however it was predominantly geogenic (naturally occurring). Rajasthan showed highest contamination
Lead - Delhi recorded highest contamination.It can impair cognitive development , increases blood pressure, affect kidney and is classified as probable carcinogen
Irrigation Suitability: The groundwater quality is largely suitable for irrigation purposes. The majority of samples, 94.30%, fall into the "excellent category”.
Other Trace Metal and Geogenic Contaminations: Arsenic (especially in Ganga and Brahamaputra basin), Manganese (e.g., Assam, Karnataka, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal) etc.

CGWB (Faridabad, Haryana )

Origin: Established in 1970 by renaming the Exploratory Tube wells Organization
Ministry: Under Ministry of Jal Shakti
Role: Management, exploration, monitoring, regulation etc of ground water resources of the country
It is also discharging the functions as Central Ground Water Authority(CGWA) established under Environment Protection Act, 1986.