Theme T44 · Water

Water security: scarcity, conservation & management

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What UPSC asks

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.

Prepare these

• 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

Answer writing

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

Directive words in these PYQs: Why (2), Discuss (1), Explain (1), Examine (1), Critically (1).

Linked themes

Builds on: study these first

These come earlier in the roadmap. Questions in this theme use them.

Comes back later in

Later themes that take this one further.

On the map

Syllabus lines covered

• GS1-L11 — Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent); factors responsible for the location of primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in various parts of the world (including India)
• GS1-L12 — Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
• GS3-L4 — Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers
• GS3-L11 — Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
• GS3-L12 — Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

All 7 PYQs, newest first

1. GS3202415 marks · 250 wordsGS3-SCI-01-M2024-Q15

   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.

   Also needs: T152 Science in everyday life & Indian scientific achievementCopyReport a typo
2. GS1202310 marks · 150 wordsGS1-GEO-05-M2023-Q05

   Why is the world today enfronted with a crisis of availability of and access to freshwater resources?

   CopyReport a typo
3. GS32020GS3-AGR-01-M2020-S03

   What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India for water conservation and water security?

   CopyReport a typo
4. GS12018GS1-GEO-07-M2018-S01

   “The ideal solution of depleting ground water resources in India is water harvesting system”. How can it be made effective in urban areas?

   Also needs: T55 Urbanisation: social problems, segregation & urban povertyCopyReport a typo
5. GS12016GS1-GEO-05-M2016-S01

   The effective management of land and water resources will drastically reduce the human miseries. Explain.

   CopyReport a typo
6. GS12016GS1-GEO-07-M2016-S01

   In what way micro-watershed development projects help in water conservation in drought-prone and semi-arid regions of India?

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7. GS12015GS1-GEO-07-M2015-S01

   India is well endowed with fresh water resources. Critically examine why it still suffers from water scarcity.

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