UPSC Prelims 2023 Q76: Environment & Ecology – Water & Wetland Conservation
- (a) Both Statement - I and Statement - II are correct and Statement - II is the correct explanation for Statement - I
- (b) Both Statement - I and Statement - II are correct and Statement - II is not the correct explanation for Statement - I
- (c) Statement - I is correct but Statement - II is incorrect
- (d) Statement - I is incorrect but Statement - II is correct
Answer: (c) Statement - I is correct but Statement - II is incorrect
Explanation
India and groundwater — UN World Water Development Report 2022
The 2022 WWDR was titled "Groundwater: Making the invisible visible".
| Fact (WWDR 2022) | Detail |
|---|---|
| India's share | India withdraws about 25% of the world's groundwater — the largest user |
| Next largest | China and the USA |
| Main use in India | About 90% goes to irrigation, not drinking water |
| Drinking water | Groundwater meets about 85% of rural drinking needs, but this is a small share of total withdrawal |
Statement I — correct (as per the UPSC key). India is the world's largest groundwater user at over a quarter of global withdrawal.
Statement II — incorrect. India's huge withdrawal is driven by irrigation, not by drinking water and sanitation.
Answer: (c) Statement - I is correct but Statement - II is incorrect.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement II is false, so it cannot be the explanation.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement II is false; most groundwater goes to farming, not drinking and sanitation.
- (c) CORRECT. India is the largest groundwater user, but about 90% of it is for irrigation, not drinking water.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement I is true; WWDR 2022 names India as the top groundwater extractor.
Key point
India withdraws about a quarter of global groundwater (WWDR 2022), about 90% of it for irrigation, not drinking water.
Remember
India uses the most groundwater in the world, mostly for irrigation.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a big population means drinking water drives withdrawal; irrigation dominates.
- Not knowing the theme of WWDR 2022: Groundwater — making the invisible visible.
- Thinking China uses the most groundwater; India ranks first.
Exam tip
India groundwater = farms first. Any statement giving drinking water as the main reason is a trap.
Sources
- UN World Water Development Report 2022 — UNESCO/UN-Water
- Central Ground Water Board — Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India