Groundwater forms the mainstay of agricultural irrigation in India, supporting over 50% of the total irrigated area and 70% of crop production, providing livelihood opportunities to half the population (World Bank 2010). But uncontrolled overuse of groundwater resources has accelerated widespread water-table declines (Rodell et al. 2009). Globally, groundwater depletion rates in India are now the highest (Aeschbach-Hertig & Gleeson 2012). Depletion of groundwater reserves has raised critical concerns over sustainable irrigation supply, food security and ecosystem services loss. Instituting a water-pricing framework for irrigation could help to regulate groundwater use and conserve dwindling water reserves