Research on groundwater science and management in India

TL;DR: This study reviews groundwater science and management research in India, focusing on its importance for food security, economic growth, and public health, employing multi-disciplinary approaches and investigative tools to address sustainable management and related socio-economic-political issues.

Abstract: Hydrogeology, with time, has become one of the cardinal subjects of geoscience, both globally and in India. In this study, importance of groundwater in context of food security, societal development, public health and hygiene as a driver of economic growth is discussed and researched. Groundwater science embodies a multi-disciplinary approach for physical demarcation of aquifers, their hydraulic characterization, establishing linkages amongst aquifers in multi-tiered aquifer systems, targeting aquifers in different areas, rock-water interaction, pollution of groundwater and remediation of contaminated aquifers etc. An array of investigative tools like, multispectral remote sensing data, electrical, magnetic and seismic geophysical surveys, environmental isotopes, microgravity variations, geographic information system etc. were employed. Significant work is also being conducted to address sustainable management of groundwater resources, and related socio-economic-political issues. This review article presents a kaleidoscope of researches carried out in India on various issues of groundwater science and management during the last four years, as the Indian academicians, professionals, researchers and policymakers strive for sustainable management of this resource.