Policy • Science • Sustainability

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Purpose of the Summit

The Groundwater Strategy Summit 2025 is a high-level, invitation-only forum convened to translate groundwater science and policy into implementable, investment-ready solutions. The Summit is being held in Jaipur on 27 December 2025 at the Rajasthan International Centre and marks 40 years of professional contribution by the Ground Water & Mineral Investigation Consultancy Centre (GWMICC) to groundwater assessment, management, and governance in India.

The Summit is organised by the Institute of Water Conservation (IWC) and sponsored by the Ground Water & Mineral Investigation Consultancy Centre (GWMICC). It brings together senior decision-makers and practitioners from government, utilities, industry, academia, finance, and civil society to address the growing groundwater crisis, particularly in water-stressed regions such as Rajasthan.

The core objective of the Summit is to move beyond awareness and diagnosis, and to focus on delivery. It aims to connect evidence with governance, and strategy with financing, so that groundwater initiatives can be scaled with confidence and accountability.

Context

According to data highlighted in the Summit Brochure, Rajasthan is among India’s most groundwater-stressed states, with over 70 percent of assessed units classified as over-exploited. Nationally, groundwater supports approximately 62 percent of irrigation, over 85 percent of rural drinking water supply, and around half of urban water demand. This context underpins the Summit’s emphasis on resilience, regulation, and long-term stewardship.

Key Themes and Focus Areas

The Summit is structured around three intersecting pillars: Policy, Science, and Sustainability, with focused discussions on:

Water security and governance

Strengthening allocation rules, compliance mechanisms, and institutional accountability to protect aquifers while enabling growth.

Technology and innovation

Use of monitoring networks, modelling, digital twins, managed aquifer recharge, and data-driven decision-making that regulators and investors can trust.

Climate resilience

Adapting groundwater systems to withstand droughts, floods, and heat stress, including nature-based and engineered recharge solutions.

Agricultural transformation

Improving productivity while reducing abstraction through crop shifts, precision irrigation, and solar-groundwater integration.

Industrial and urban applications

Conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, reuse, circular water systems, and transparent operational models.

Public-private partnerships and financing

Structuring PPP models, blended finance, and CSR-aligned investments to support recharge, reuse, and monitoring at scale.

Expected Outcomes

By the close of the Summit, delegates are expected to leave with:
  • Clear priorities for groundwater security across cities, agriculture, and industry
  • Shortlists of high-impact projects for recharge, reuse, stormwater management, and monitoring
  • Practical playbooks for governance, compliance, and performance measurement
  • Partnership pathways linking government, industry, finance, and academia
  • A concise Summit Note capturing commitments, next steps, and points of contact for follow-through

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The Summit is explicitly aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals most directly impacted by the groundwater strategy, including SDGs 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 17. This alignment ensures that groundwater discussions remain connected to public health, climate action, sustainable cities, responsible production, and partnerships for delivery

Media Access and Interviews

The Groundwater Strategy Summit 2025 is an invitation-only event. Media representatives may request interviews, background briefings, or post-event summaries with organisers and selected speakers. Detailed information on the programme, speakers, and thematic tracks is available in the official Summit Brochure and on the website.

Media Contact

For media enquiries and interview requests:

Himanshu Jain, Summit Convenor
Groundwater Strategy Summit 2025
Email: hj@groundwaterindia.com
Website:
https://www.groundwaterindia.com
https://www.iwc.org.in