UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — India pumps more groundwater than any other country — more than China and the United States combined. This is because in India, groundwater is a lifeline for hundreds of millions of people and a cornerstone of the nation’s food system. As wells deepen and water tables decline, a team of researchers is examining how communities can manage this critical resource more sustainably and equitably.
On a recent episode of “Growing Impact,” Penn State researchers discussed their Institute of Energy and the Environment seed grant project studying groundwater governance in India and the impacts of a large-scale, community-based water management initiative.
The team is examining the Atal Bhujal Yojana, a World Bank-supported, $800 million program launched by the Indian government and described as the world’s largest community-based groundwater management effort. Unlike traditional top-down water policies that rely on regulation or incentives, the program aimed to build local ownership by positioning communities as decision-makers in managing aquifers.
Mook Bangalore, assistant professor of public policy and project principal investigator, said a research partner in India described the water in India as either too much, too little or too polluted.
“In terms of quality, quantity and suitability, it remains a major challenge for all sectors of the economy and for people’s livelihoods,” Bangalore said.
Because most rainfall occurs during the monsoon season, typically from June through October, groundwater plays a critical role in meeting water demand during the rest of the year, said Praharsh Patel, assistant professor of environmental economics at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, research team member and a Penn State alumnus.
“If groundwater supplies become unsustainable, the impacts could extend beyond agriculture to food security and migration, with potential global implications,” Patel said.
The researchers are also investigating how groundwater management is mediated by social and economic inequalities, and how the Atal Bhujal Yojana program is addressing this. Larger farmers with greater access to land, pumps and electricity can often extract more water, while smaller farmers may face limited access or must purchase water from others, Bangalore said.
Kaitlyn Spangler, assistant professor of community development and engagement and research team member, emphasized that equitable groundwater management requires more than equal participation.
“Managing groundwater as a common resource means ensuring that historically marginalized groups — including disadvantaged communities and particularly women across castes — have a more proportionate seat at the table,” Spangler said.
Through interviews with local stakeholders and farmers, the team said that formal requirements for diverse gendered representation on village water committees did not always lead to meaningful participation from men and women alike. Some designated members were unclear about the committee’s purpose or did not participate in committee decisions, while influential decision-makers sometimes operated outside formal governance structures.
Researchers also identified challenges coordinating across multiple levels of governance — from international funders to national and local implementation — which may have affected how the program functioned on the ground. At the same time, strong local leadership emerged as a key factor in communities where groundwater management efforts showed signs of success.
The findings highlight the importance of long-term, locally grounded research partnerships in supporting effective and equitable environmental policy, the researchers said.
“Growing Impact” is a podcast by the Institute of Energy and the Environment. It features Penn State researchers who have been awarded IEE seed grants and discusses their foundational work as they further their projects. The podcast is available on multiple platforms, including YouTube, Apple, Amazon and Spotify.