Groundwater constitutes the principal source of freshwater in arid and semi-arid regions of the world, particularly in India, where seasonal rainfall variability and limited surface water availability constrain sustainable development. Rajasthan, one of India’s most water-stressed states, faces acute groundwater depletion, with Jodhpur district emerging as a critical hotspot of over-extraction and declining water security. The findings reveal a persistent decline in groundwater tables often exceeding 1-2 meters annually in over-exploited blocks primarily driven by intensive agricultural irrigation, unregulated urban expansion, climate variability, and institutional weaknesses in groundwater governance. The paper concludes that restoring groundwater balance in arid zones requires a synthesis of traditional water-harvesting knowledge, scientific resource assessment, community engagement, and institutional reform to ensure long-term water security and socio-ecological resilience.