Environmental Studies · Geography

Water Conservation and Management

2,859 Questions

Water conservation and management questions evaluate techniques for preserving water resources, traditional harvesting methods, and modern irrigation systems. Topics include wastewater treatment, groundwater extraction, and the economic role of wetlands. These concepts are essential for environmental studies and geography exams.

Irrigation MethodsWater HarvestingWastewater ManagementHydropower PlantsWetlands ConservationUrban Water Quality

Water Conservation and Management Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: Answer the following questions with the appropriate information from the passage. Write your answer:

Yes: If the statement admits what the writer says No: If the statement contradicts what the writer says Not Given: If nothing has been mentioned by the writer

Our country is facing problem due to sufficient supply of water.

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

PRECIOUS RESOURCE

While India is aspiring to become a global power, most of its citizens do not even have the basic amenity of adequate water supply. During the Last seven years, nearly 1.5 lakh villages have lost access to water supply. According to the Comptroller and Auditor –General’s report, while 85 percent of rural India is dependent on ground water, the environmental degradation and reduced recharges have made most underground sources ineffectual. Water scarcity ails most Indian states and is a pressing problem facing both the rural and urban areas.
One of the major causes of water shortage has been the diminishing water-table, which has been consistently falling due to indiscriminate water exploitation. In grain-surplus states of  Punjab and Haryana, with over 20-lakh tube wells and pumps, water-tables have gone 1600 feet deeper. The ground water levels plummeting, Punjab, the food bowl of India, can turn into a desert. The Punjab government’s curb on the early sowing of water-intensive rice is appreciable, but it has to be regulated further-more. The state government, instead of following appeasement policies like free electricity to farmers, should find suitable steps to augment water resources. To arrest the water –table, Haryana is planning a joint project with the Centre. In Sirsa district, a pilot project involving recharge and storage tanks has already been initiated

Indeed, water is too precious a resource and India and its states cannot afford to fritter it away. The Central government has been spending crores of rupees on water conservation, yet little attention is being paid to harvesting rainwater, even though it is estimated that if 5 percent of the rainwater is harvested annually, it could produce 900 million liters of water, The Centre’s initiative to make it mandatory for people to recharge underground water needs to be implemented with greater earnestness. Concerted government efforts must seek community participation, and the revival of the traditional water sources has to be encouraged

 

 

  1. Yes

  2. No

  3. Not Given

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The passage states that India is facing water scarcity and shortage, with most citizens lacking adequate water supply and 1.5 lakh villages losing access to water in seven years. The statement claims there is a 'sufficient supply' of water, which directly contradicts the writer's description of the water crisis.

Multiple choice

Directions: Answer the following questions with the appropriate information from the passage. Write your answer:

Yes: If the statement admits what the writer says No: If the statement contradicts what the writer says Not Given: If nothing has been mentioned by the writer.

Hand-pumps are still widely used.

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

PRECIOUS RESOURCE

While India is aspiring to become a global power, most of its citizens do not even have the basic amenity of adequate water supply. During the Last seven years, nearly 1.5 lakh villages have lost access to water supply. According to the Comptroller and Auditor –General’s report, while 85 percent of rural India is dependent on ground water, the environmental degradation and reduced recharges have made most underground sources ineffectual. Water scarcity ails most Indian states and is a pressing problem facing both the rural and urban areas.
One of the major causes of water shortage has been the diminishing water-table, which has been consistently falling due to indiscriminate water exploitation. In grain-surplus states of  Punjab and Haryana, with over 20-lakh tube wells and pumps, water-tables have gone 1600 feet deeper. The ground water levels plummeting, Punjab, the food bowl of India, can turn into a desert. The Punjab government’s curb on the early sowing of water-intensive rice is appreciable, but it has to be regulated further-more. The state government, instead of following appeasement policies like free electricity to farmers, should find suitable steps to augment water resources. To arrest the water –table, Haryana is planning a joint project with the Centre. In Sirsa district, a pilot project involving recharge and storage tanks has already been initiated

Indeed, water is too precious a resource and India and its states cannot afford to fritter it away. The Central government has been spending crores of rupees on water conservation, yet little attention is being paid to harvesting rainwater, even though it is estimated that if 5 percent of the rainwater is harvested annually, it could produce 900 million liters of water, The Centre’s initiative to make it mandatory for people to recharge underground water needs to be implemented with greater earnestness. Concerted government efforts must seek community participation, and the revival of the traditional water sources has to be encouraged

 

 

  1. Yes

  2. No

  3. Not Given

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The passage states that 85% of rural India depends on groundwater and mentions tube wells and pumps, implying hand-pumps are among the groundwater extraction methods still in use, despite underground sources becoming ineffective. The statement aligns with this.

Multiple choice

Directions: Answer the following questions with the appropriate information from the passage. Write your answer:

Yes: If the statement admits what the writer says No: If the statement contradicts what the writer says Not Given: If nothing has been mentioned by the writer.

Fritter means food to eat.

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

PRECIOUS RESOURCE

While India is aspiring to become a global power, most of its citizens do not even have the basic amenity of adequate water supply. During the Last seven years, nearly 1.5 lakh villages have lost access to water supply. According to the Comptroller and Auditor –General’s report, while 85 percent of rural India is dependent on ground water, the environmental degradation and reduced recharges have made most underground sources ineffectual. Water scarcity ails most Indian states and is a pressing problem facing both the rural and urban areas.
One of the major causes of water shortage has been the diminishing water-table, which has been consistently falling due to indiscriminate water exploitation. In grain-surplus states of  Punjab and Haryana, with over 20-lakh tube wells and pumps, water-tables have gone 1600 feet deeper. The ground water levels plummeting, Punjab, the food bowl of India, can turn into a desert. The Punjab government’s curb on the early sowing of water-intensive rice is appreciable, but it has to be regulated further-more. The state government, instead of following appeasement policies like free electricity to farmers, should find suitable steps to augment water resources. To arrest the water –table, Haryana is planning a joint project with the Centre. In Sirsa district, a pilot project involving recharge and storage tanks has already been initiated

Indeed, water is too precious a resource and India and its states cannot afford to fritter it away. The Central government has been spending crores of rupees on water conservation, yet little attention is being paid to harvesting rainwater, even though it is estimated that if 5 percent of the rainwater is harvested annually, it could produce 900 million liters of water, The Centre’s initiative to make it mandatory for people to recharge underground water needs to be implemented with greater earnestness. Concerted government efforts must seek community participation, and the revival of the traditional water sources has to be encouraged

 

 

  1. Yes

  2. No

  3. Not Given

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Multiple choice

Directions: Choose from the options 1 - 3.

What is the title for the given passage?

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

PRECIOUS RESOURCE

While India is aspiring to become a global power, most of its citizens do not even have the basic amenity of adequate water supply. During the Last seven years, nearly 1.5 lakh villages have lost access to water supply. According to the Comptroller and Auditor –General’s report, while 85 percent of rural India is dependent on ground water, the environmental degradation and reduced recharges have made most underground sources ineffectual. Water scarcity ails most Indian states and is a pressing problem facing both the rural and urban areas.
One of the major causes of water shortage has been the diminishing water-table, which has been consistently falling due to indiscriminate water exploitation. In grain-surplus states of  Punjab and Haryana, with over 20-lakh tube wells and pumps, water-tables have gone 1600 feet deeper. The ground water levels plummeting, Punjab, the food bowl of India, can turn into a desert. The Punjab government’s curb on the early sowing of water-intensive rice is appreciable, but it has to be regulated further-more. The state government, instead of following appeasement policies like free electricity to farmers, should find suitable steps to augment water resources. To arrest the water –table, Haryana is planning a joint project with the Centre. In Sirsa district, a pilot project involving recharge and storage tanks has already been initiated

Indeed, water is too precious a resource and India and its states cannot afford to fritter it away. The Central government has been spending crores of rupees on water conservation, yet little attention is being paid to harvesting rainwater, even though it is estimated that if 5 percent of the rainwater is harvested annually, it could produce 900 million liters of water, The Centre’s initiative to make it mandatory for people to recharge underground water needs to be implemented with greater earnestness. Concerted government efforts must seek community participation, and the revival of the traditional water sources has to be encouraged

 

 

  1. Water scarcity

  2. Save the water

  3. Water - a curse

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The passage title is 'PRECIOUS RESOURCE' and discusses water conservation. Among the options, 'Save the water' best captures the passage's central theme of conserving this precious resource. 'Water - a curse' contradicts the passage's premise.

Multiple choice

Directions: Answer the following questions with the appropriate information from the passage. Write your answer:

Yes: If the statement admits what the writer says No: If the statement contradicts what the writer says Not Given: If nothing has been mentioned by the writer.

Sources underneath are not satisfactory.

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

PRECIOUS RESOURCE

While India is aspiring to become a global power, most of its citizens do not even have the basic amenity of adequate water supply. During the Last seven years, nearly 1.5 lakh villages have lost access to water supply. According to the Comptroller and Auditor –General’s report, while 85 percent of rural India is dependent on ground water, the environmental degradation and reduced recharges have made most underground sources ineffectual. Water scarcity ails most Indian states and is a pressing problem facing both the rural and urban areas.
One of the major causes of water shortage has been the diminishing water-table, which has been consistently falling due to indiscriminate water exploitation. In grain-surplus states of  Punjab and Haryana, with over 20-lakh tube wells and pumps, water-tables have gone 1600 feet deeper. The ground water levels plummeting, Punjab, the food bowl of India, can turn into a desert. The Punjab government’s curb on the early sowing of water-intensive rice is appreciable, but it has to be regulated further-more. The state government, instead of following appeasement policies like free electricity to farmers, should find suitable steps to augment water resources. To arrest the water –table, Haryana is planning a joint project with the Centre. In Sirsa district, a pilot project involving recharge and storage tanks has already been initiated

Indeed, water is too precious a resource and India and its states cannot afford to fritter it away. The Central government has been spending crores of rupees on water conservation, yet little attention is being paid to harvesting rainwater, even though it is estimated that if 5 percent of the rainwater is harvested annually, it could produce 900 million liters of water, The Centre’s initiative to make it mandatory for people to recharge underground water needs to be implemented with greater earnestness. Concerted government efforts must seek community participation, and the revival of the traditional water sources has to be encouraged

 

 

  1. Yes

  2. No

  3. Not Given

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The passage explicitly states that environmental degradation and reduced recharges 'have made most underground sources ineffectual.' This directly confirms that sources underneath (groundwater/underground sources) are not satisfactory.

Multiple choice

Directions: Answer the following questions with the appropriate information from the passage. Write your answer:

Yes: If the statement admits what the writer says No: If the statement contradicts what the writer says Not Given: If nothing has been mentioned by the writer.

Storage of rain water leads to the production of water in millions.

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

PRECIOUS RESOURCE

While India is aspiring to become a global power, most of its citizens do not even have the basic amenity of adequate water supply. During the Last seven years, nearly 1.5 lakh villages have lost access to water supply. According to the Comptroller and Auditor –General’s report, while 85 percent of rural India is dependent on ground water, the environmental degradation and reduced recharges have made most underground sources ineffectual. Water scarcity ails most Indian states and is a pressing problem facing both the rural and urban areas.
One of the major causes of water shortage has been the diminishing water-table, which has been consistently falling due to indiscriminate water exploitation. In grain-surplus states of  Punjab and Haryana, with over 20-lakh tube wells and pumps, water-tables have gone 1600 feet deeper. The ground water levels plummeting, Punjab, the food bowl of India, can turn into a desert. The Punjab government’s curb on the early sowing of water-intensive rice is appreciable, but it has to be regulated further-more. The state government, instead of following appeasement policies like free electricity to farmers, should find suitable steps to augment water resources. To arrest the water –table, Haryana is planning a joint project with the Centre. In Sirsa district, a pilot project involving recharge and storage tanks has already been initiated

Indeed, water is too precious a resource and India and its states cannot afford to fritter it away. The Central government has been spending crores of rupees on water conservation, yet little attention is being paid to harvesting rainwater, even though it is estimated that if 5 percent of the rainwater is harvested annually, it could produce 900 million liters of water, The Centre’s initiative to make it mandatory for people to recharge underground water needs to be implemented with greater earnestness. Concerted government efforts must seek community participation, and the revival of the traditional water sources has to be encouraged

 

 

  1. Yes

  2. No

  3. Not Given

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The passage states that harvesting 5% of rainwater annually 'could produce 900 million liters of water,' which confirms that rainwater storage leads to water production in the hundreds of millions.

Multiple choice

Directions: Answer the following questions with the appropriate information from the passage. Write your answer:

Yes: If the statement admits what the writer says No: If the statement contradicts what the writer says Not Given: If nothing has been mentioned by the writer.

Rain water should be gathered.

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

PRECIOUS RESOURCE

While India is aspiring to become a global power, most of its citizens do not even have the basic amenity of adequate water supply. During the Last seven years, nearly 1.5 lakh villages have lost access to water supply. According to the Comptroller and Auditor –General’s report, while 85 percent of rural India is dependent on ground water, the environmental degradation and reduced recharges have made most underground sources ineffectual. Water scarcity ails most Indian states and is a pressing problem facing both the rural and urban areas.
One of the major causes of water shortage has been the diminishing water-table, which has been consistently falling due to indiscriminate water exploitation. In grain-surplus states of  Punjab and Haryana, with over 20-lakh tube wells and pumps, water-tables have gone 1600 feet deeper. The ground water levels plummeting, Punjab, the food bowl of India, can turn into a desert. The Punjab government’s curb on the early sowing of water-intensive rice is appreciable, but it has to be regulated further-more. The state government, instead of following appeasement policies like free electricity to farmers, should find suitable steps to augment water resources. To arrest the water –table, Haryana is planning a joint project with the Centre. In Sirsa district, a pilot project involving recharge and storage tanks has already been initiated

Indeed, water is too precious a resource and India and its states cannot afford to fritter it away. The Central government has been spending crores of rupees on water conservation, yet little attention is being paid to harvesting rainwater, even though it is estimated that if 5 percent of the rainwater is harvested annually, it could produce 900 million liters of water, The Centre’s initiative to make it mandatory for people to recharge underground water needs to be implemented with greater earnestness. Concerted government efforts must seek community participation, and the revival of the traditional water sources has to be encouraged

 

 

  1. Yes

  2. No

  3. Not Given

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The passage states that 'little attention is being paid to harvesting rainwater' and that 'The Centre's initiative to make it mandatory for people to recharge underground water needs to be implemented with greater earnestness.' This supports that rainwater should be gathered/collected.

Multiple choice

Directions: Answer the following questions with the appropriate information from the passage. Write your answer:

Yes: If the statement admits what the writer says No: If the statement contradicts what the writer says Not Given: If nothing has been mentioned by the writer.

Appeasement policy is the policy of settling international quarrels by admitting and satisfying grievances through rational negotiation and compromise.

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

PRECIOUS RESOURCE

While India is aspiring to become a global power, most of its citizens do not even have the basic amenity of adequate water supply. During the Last seven years, nearly 1.5 lakh villages have lost access to water supply. According to the Comptroller and Auditor –General’s report, while 85 percent of rural India is dependent on ground water, the environmental degradation and reduced recharges have made most underground sources ineffectual. Water scarcity ails most Indian states and is a pressing problem facing both the rural and urban areas.
One of the major causes of water shortage has been the diminishing water-table, which has been consistently falling due to indiscriminate water exploitation. In grain-surplus states of  Punjab and Haryana, with over 20-lakh tube wells and pumps, water-tables have gone 1600 feet deeper. The ground water levels plummeting, Punjab, the food bowl of India, can turn into a desert. The Punjab government’s curb on the early sowing of water-intensive rice is appreciable, but it has to be regulated further-more. The state government, instead of following appeasement policies like free electricity to farmers, should find suitable steps to augment water resources. To arrest the water –table, Haryana is planning a joint project with the Centre. In Sirsa district, a pilot project involving recharge and storage tanks has already been initiated

Indeed, water is too precious a resource and India and its states cannot afford to fritter it away. The Central government has been spending crores of rupees on water conservation, yet little attention is being paid to harvesting rainwater, even though it is estimated that if 5 percent of the rainwater is harvested annually, it could produce 900 million liters of water, The Centre’s initiative to make it mandatory for people to recharge underground water needs to be implemented with greater earnestness. Concerted government efforts must seek community participation, and the revival of the traditional water sources has to be encouraged

 

 

  1. Yes

  2. No

  3. Not Given

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The passage mentions 'appeasement policies like free electricity to farmers' but provides no definition or explanation of what appeasement policy means in the context of international relations. The dictionary-style definition given in the statement is not found in the passage.

Multiple choice

Directions: Answer the following questions with the appropriate information from the passage. Write your answer:

Yes: If the statement admits what the writer says No: If the statement contradicts what the writer says Not Given: If nothing has been mentioned by the writer.

Recharging of water underneath should be made compulsory.

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

PRECIOUS RESOURCE

While India is aspiring to become a global power, most of its citizens do not even have the basic amenity of adequate water supply. During the Last seven years, nearly 1.5 lakh villages have lost access to water supply. According to the Comptroller and Auditor –General’s report, while 85 percent of rural India is dependent on ground water, the environmental degradation and reduced recharges have made most underground sources ineffectual. Water scarcity ails most Indian states and is a pressing problem facing both the rural and urban areas.
One of the major causes of water shortage has been the diminishing water-table, which has been consistently falling due to indiscriminate water exploitation. In grain-surplus states of  Punjab and Haryana, with over 20-lakh tube wells and pumps, water-tables have gone 1600 feet deeper. The ground water levels plummeting, Punjab, the food bowl of India, can turn into a desert. The Punjab government’s curb on the early sowing of water-intensive rice is appreciable, but it has to be regulated further-more. The state government, instead of following appeasement policies like free electricity to farmers, should find suitable steps to augment water resources. To arrest the water –table, Haryana is planning a joint project with the Centre. In Sirsa district, a pilot project involving recharge and storage tanks has already been initiated

Indeed, water is too precious a resource and India and its states cannot afford to fritter it away. The Central government has been spending crores of rupees on water conservation, yet little attention is being paid to harvesting rainwater, even though it is estimated that if 5 percent of the rainwater is harvested annually, it could produce 900 million liters of water, The Centre’s initiative to make it mandatory for people to recharge underground water needs to be implemented with greater earnestness. Concerted government efforts must seek community participation, and the revival of the traditional water sources has to be encouraged

 

 

  1. Yes

  2. No

  3. Not Given

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The passage states that 'The Centre's initiative to make it mandatory for people to recharge underground water needs to be implemented with greater earnestness.' This directly supports that recharging underground water should be made compulsory.

Multiple choice

Directions: Answer the following questions with the appropriate information from the passage. Write your answer:

Yes: If the statement admits what the writer says No: If the statement contradicts what the writer says Not Given: If nothing has been mentioned by the writer.

Water resources should be encouraged worldwide.

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

PRECIOUS RESOURCE

While India is aspiring to become a global power, most of its citizens do not even have the basic amenity of adequate water supply. During the Last seven years, nearly 1.5 lakh villages have lost access to water supply. According to the Comptroller and Auditor –General’s report, while 85 percent of rural India is dependent on ground water, the environmental degradation and reduced recharges have made most underground sources ineffectual. Water scarcity ails most Indian states and is a pressing problem facing both the rural and urban areas.
One of the major causes of water shortage has been the diminishing water-table, which has been consistently falling due to indiscriminate water exploitation. In grain-surplus states of  Punjab and Haryana, with over 20-lakh tube wells and pumps, water-tables have gone 1600 feet deeper. The ground water levels plummeting, Punjab, the food bowl of India, can turn into a desert. The Punjab government’s curb on the early sowing of water-intensive rice is appreciable, but it has to be regulated further-more. The state government, instead of following appeasement policies like free electricity to farmers, should find suitable steps to augment water resources. To arrest the water –table, Haryana is planning a joint project with the Centre. In Sirsa district, a pilot project involving recharge and storage tanks has already been initiated

Indeed, water is too precious a resource and India and its states cannot afford to fritter it away. The Central government has been spending crores of rupees on water conservation, yet little attention is being paid to harvesting rainwater, even though it is estimated that if 5 percent of the rainwater is harvested annually, it could produce 900 million liters of water, The Centre’s initiative to make it mandatory for people to recharge underground water needs to be implemented with greater earnestness. Concerted government efforts must seek community participation, and the revival of the traditional water sources has to be encouraged

 

 

  1. Yes

  2. No

  3. Not Given

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The passage discusses water issues specifically in India and mentions Indian states and the Central government. It does not extend the discussion to worldwide or global water resource encouragement. The scope is limited to India.

Multiple choice
  1. 9.7 million hectare-metres

  2. 10.9 million hectare-metres

  3. 18.4 million hectare-metres

  4. 21.3 million hectare-metres

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

By 1973, India's irrigation capacity had nearly doubled from 1951 levels, reaching 18.4 million hectare-metres. This growth reflects the success of major multipurpose river valley projects commissioned during the 1950s-1960s.

Multiple choice
  1. 5 million hectare-metres

  2. 10 million hectare-metres

  3. 15 million hectare-metres

  4. 20 million hectare-metres

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

India utilizes approximately 10 million hectare-metres of its 40 million hectare-metres potential groundwater resources, representing about 25% utilization. This leaves significant room for groundwater development, though sustainability concerns exist.

Multiple choice
  1. Navigation

  2. Grinding Grains

  3. Pumping Water

  4. Purifying Water

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Water mills were traditionally used to grind grains before the advent of modern energy sources. The kinetic energy of flowing water was harnessed to turn millstones that crushed wheat, corn, and other grains into flour. This was one of the earliest applications of water power for mechanical work.

Multiple choice
  1. Canals

  2. Wells

  3. Tanks

  4. None of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Wells and tube wells are the largest source of irrigation in India, covering about 45-50% of irrigated area. Canals are second (around 30-35%), followed by tanks and other sources. Wells provide critical irrigation in areas where canal networks are less developed.