Agriculture remains the backbone of India’s economy, contributing 18.3% to national income and employing nearly 58 per cent of the workforce. Paddy as the staple food for a majority of the population plays a crucial role in ensuring food security and sustaining rural livelihoods. This study analyses long-term trends in area, production, productivity, and the economic importance of paddy farming using secondary data from 2000-01 to 2023-24. The study underscores the socio-economic significance of paddy cultivation as a driver of rural employment, income security and food stability. It also highlights persistent challenges including climate variability, irrigation deficits, and rising input costs. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for region-specific interventions focused on water-use efficiency, mechanization, hybrid seed adoption, and institutional support to enhance productivity, profitability, and sustainability of paddy farming in Karnataka and across India.