<p>Critical watersheds require evaluation against potential threats of frequent droughts and water scarcity scenarios in a region. In this study, the Groundwater (GW) status under the impacts of hydrological droughts and the vegetative indices, substantially justified the patterns of drought propagation in an Indian river basin. Observations from space and modelled data outputs enabled to study control of droughts on vegetation growth and sub-surface water resources. Hydrologic modelling raised our understanding of the interplay of drought variables in space and time. By using NDVI, NDWI, EVI and studying the rise and fall of GW recharge highlighted the overall drought propagation between 1996 and 2022. The development of an acceptable hydrologic model with good (R² ≥ 0.59, NSE ≥ 0.67 and 8.63 ≥ PBIAS≥-14.32) scores efficiently simulated the scenarios of drought impacts between 1996 and 2021. Deviated values of NDVI and NDWI distinguished 05 periods of drought events with 2000–2003 as the lengthiest one for vegetative drought. Years 2000 and 2010 showed the driest conditions as per the selected indicators. The work investigated the surface and sub-surface contribution of rainfalls and recharges to the GW versus differential impacts on seasonal crops. Long term trend indicated an increase in the greenness index. GRACE-based water storage deficit detected year 2012 with the lowest vegetative growth under deficit GW recharge conditions. Between 2000 and 2022, 04 major periods were demarcated for a fall in GW recharge level, the lengthiest being in 2000–2006. This documented research augmented subject knowledge on drought evolution and its impacts. It shall present an earlier conceptualization towards any advancing drought and its reliable forecasting in a data-scarce region.</p>