This review analyses India’s water crisis by examining factors, impacts and engineering strategies through literature from 2000-2025. It identifies climate-induced hydrological stress, unsustainable groundwater extraction, rapid urbanization, and inefficient water infrastructure as key drivers of water scarcity. Impacts on food security, health, and migration are discussed with respect to the India’s water-energy-food nexus. Promising solutions include micro-irrigation, fertigation, decentralized wastewater treatment, permeable pavements, desalination, and aquifer recharge systems, all showing strong potential for scale-up. The findings aim to guide planners, engineers, and policy makers towards innovation-driven and participatory water management alligned with SDG 6, while offering transferable strategies for global stakeholders seeking secure and sustainable water future.