This paper is a thorough literature review of processes related to surface water and groundwater interactions and the available tools to model them at various spatial and temporal scales with different levels of complexity. This paper aim to put light on exchange fluxes between surface water-groundwater for rivers in India and predict how these may change with existing or different surface water and groundwater management. As such, this address a major recognised deficiency in the management of troubled or vulnerable Indian catchments in accounting for stream- groundwater interaction in the water budget. It is aimed at determining the deficiencies of the present modelling approaches for Indian conditions and highlighting scope for future model development. It is intended to enhance awareness of the different modelling approaches published in the peer-reviewed literature, prevent duplication, and underpin adaptation and initiate informed debate.