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The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) was established by the Government of India under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. It plays a key role in regulating and managing the country’s groundwater resources. One of its primary functions is issuing the Central Ground Water Authority NOC (No Objection Certificate) to ensure sustainable groundwater usage. This is achieved through regulatory measures, advisories, directions, and notifications addressing specific needs and situations.
The NOC from central ground water authority is crucial for promoting responsible practices like demand-side management, artificial recharge of groundwater, and rainwater harvesting. By enforcing these measures, the Central Ground Water Authority ensures the preservation and efficient use of this critical resource.
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A Central Ground Water Authority NOC is a certificate that ensures a proposed project or activity involving groundwater extraction—whether for commercial, industrial, or domestic purposes—complies with all applicable regulations set by the CGWA.
The CGWA is a regulatory body responsible for managing and protecting India's groundwater resources. Obtaining Central Ground Water Authority NOC is mandatory for any entity intending to extract groundwater beyond a specified threshold limit.
The NOC from central ground water authority guarantees that the project or activity does not harm the environment, public health, or public safety. It also ensures the project respects the rights of individuals and businesses, promoting sustainable and responsible groundwater use.
Water is a State subject under the Indian Constitution, and the regulation of groundwater abstraction is managed at both the Central and State levels. At the central level, the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) is responsible for regulating and managing groundwater development, as per Section 3(3) of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, following the direction of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India.
CGWA's powers include regulating, controlling, managing, and developing groundwater across the country, and issuing necessary directions for these purposes. The authority oversees groundwater regulation in 20 states and union territories, while in other states, NOCs for groundwater extraction are issued by the respective State Ground Water Authorities (SGWAs) or designated authorities

The list of documents required for CGWA NOC for infrastructure projects is as follows:
The list of documents needed for CGWA NOC for water boring (industries) are as follows:
The list of documents required for NOC from CGWA for mining projects is as follows:
The following procedure step-by-step needs to be followed to get Central Ground Water Authority NOC-
Begin by filling out the online eligibility form available on the CGWA portal. Provide details such as your industrial segment, the type of water quality required, whether the application is for a new plant or an existing one, and the plant's location.
Register as a new user by entering your credentials, including your name, email ID, address proof, and ID proof. Upon successful registration, you will receive a login ID to proceed further.
Based on your industrial segment and intended groundwater usage, upload all the necessary documents through the portal. This step is crucial for the approval and issuance of the NOC from central ground water authority.
Acquire the Central Ground Water Authority NOC and ensure responsible water usage.
The important follow-ups post Central Ground Water Authority NOC application process is as given below:
Visit the official CGWA website to track the status of your submitted application. Ensure you provide the necessary details to access the updated status of your application.
Once approved, download your CGWA NOC certificate directly from the website. Additionally, the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) publishes a public list of companies for which NOCs have been issued. Make sure to verify your details in the list and save your certificate for future reference.
Some of the important key takeaways for the renewal of NOC from central ground water authority are as follows:
The most common compliances to follow after obtaining central ground water authority NOC are as follows:
The validity period of CGWA borewell NOC shall be valid for a period of 2 years to 5 years depending on the assessment unit industry or infrastructure project falls into from the date of issuance. Meanwhile, the applicant shall apply for NOC renewal a minimum of 90 days prior to the expiry of its validity.
The Central Ground Water Authority NOC is vested with the following powers:
Powers Under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986
Regulation of Groundwater Management
Powers Under Section 4 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986
Assessment units, such as blocks, mandals, taluks, or firkas, are used to evaluate groundwater resources. These units are categorized based on the stage of groundwater development and long-term water level trends. The four categories of assessment units by CGWA NOC are:
The states regulated by CGWA NOC for water boring are Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand, and in UTs of Andaman & Nicobar, and Daman and DIU & Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
The states that are not regulated by NOC from CGWA are Andhra Pradesh, NCT Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and West Bengal and in UTs of Chandigarh, Puducherry, Lakshadweep and Ladakh.
The official fees for applying for a Central Ground Water Authority NOC are as follows:
Though there is no specific timeline mentioned in the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) guidelines, it usually takes around 90 days to process and approve the application for Central Ground Water Authority NOC, subject to NOC guidelines compliance.
Corpbiz has proved its mettle in the space of environmental consulting. With a network of 500+ environmental consultants in PAN India, we leave no stone unturned in helping greenpreneurs and meeting their compliance requirements. Given below are the reasons why we are the top choice for Central Ground Water Authority NOC-
Written by Aarya Pokharel. Last updated on Nov 11 2025, 09:54 PM
Aarya Pokharel brings 3 years of solid experience in legal research and compliance. Her expertise spans tax filing, secretarial compliances, and advisory services, with a strong focus on delivering precise legal research and strategic advisory support.
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