Watershed development in India has been following the ridge-to-valley approach which considers ridge areas as groundwater recharge zones and valley portions as groundwater discharge areas. Aquifer characteristics are influenced by a large number of factors and aquifer dynamics may or may not follow watershed morphologies. It is therefore important to include aquifer based hydrogeological investigations as a part of the planning phase for efficient and scientific implementation of watershed programmes. Similarly, assessment of watershed development is generally conducted based on the quality of structures and not in terms of the efficiency of the structures. In many regions of the country, aquifers possess limited storage capacities. Hence, the efficiency of a structure built in watershed development will depend on its location as well as how the water harvested in the structure is managed. The decisions regarding location and management of water for the structure ought to consider the underlying aquifer properties in addition to other factors. India is a geo-diverse nation, the consequences of which are evident in a widely ranging set of hydrogeological conditions across the country. Watersheds and watershed management did not necessarily include hydrogeology until ACWADAM took upon itself to infuse such an input. Aquifers in different hydrogeological settings relate differently to watersheds. In the hard rock regions, shallow aquifers may overlap with watersheds while in the mountain and alluvial aquifer systems shallow and deep aquifers may extend under multiple watersheds.