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UPSC Prelims 2020 · Environment · Rules for the Planet
Consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 36% of India's districts are classified as "overexploited" or "critical" by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
- CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act.
- India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world.
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 2 only
- (d) 1 and 3 only
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
CGWA is under the EPA, and India leads the world in groundwater irrigation.
Statement by statement
1. ✗ WRONG India had about 11% of units over-exploited and 3% critical (2024 assessment) — not 36% of districts.
2. ✓ CORRECT CGWA was constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act.
3. ✓ CORRECT India has the world’s largest area under groundwater irrigation (and is the largest user of groundwater).
The idea
Groundwater is assessed block by block. The test is the stage of extraction: how much is pumped out in a year compared with how much is recharged.
Up to 70% of recharge: safe → 70–90%: semi-critical → 90–100%: critical → More than 100%: over-exploited
Why the others are wrong
(c) Drops India’s top rank in groundwater irrigation.
The trap
36% sounds realistic for a water crisis. The official share of over-exploited plus critical units was much lower.
Also know
India pumps about a quarter of all the groundwater used in the world, more than China and the USA together. The worst-hit States are Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi, where free or cheap power and water-hungry crops drive pumping. Atal Bhujal Yojana (2019) supports community-led groundwater management in seven States.
🔒 India: largest groundwater user; ~60% of irrigation from groundwater.