The world is facing an acute shortage of clean and safe freshwater. What are the alternative technologies which can solve this crisis? Briefly discuss any three such technologies citing their key merits and demerits.

Theme

T44 Water security: scarcity, conservation & management

What UPSC asks in this theme

A cross-paper favourite: freshwater crisis, why India suffers scarcity despite endowment, managing land and water, urban water harvesting, micro-watersheds, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, and new water technologies.

What to cover

• Supply vs access vs quality problems
• Causes of scarcity: uneven distribution, wastage, pollution, groundwater overuse
• Rainwater harvesting, micro-watershed development, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Atal Bhujal
• Alternative technologies: desalination, atmospheric water, wastewater reuse
• Integrated water resource management

Writing the answer

• Structure: problem → causes → measures (supply side, demand side, governance)

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 7 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.