Irrigation accounts for more proportion of water used than any other sectors in the country. India, being an agrarian economy, has always given high developmental priority to irrigation to increase agricultural production. Agriculture, thus, accounts for 89% of surface water and 92% of groundwater utilisation.

The share of Domestic sector is 9% in surface water utilisation, whereas industrial sector use 2% of surface water and 5% of ground water, which is lesser than the share of agriculture/irrigation.