Identify the correct statements with reference to water resources of India.
(A) India accounts for 4 percent of world's water resource.
(B) Annual precipitation in India is about 4000 cubic km.
(C) Total utilisable water resource in the country is only 1869 cubic km.
(D) Agriculture accounts for most of the surface and groundwater utilisation.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → (A), (B) and (D) only
(A) India accounts for 4 percent of world’s water resource. — Correct. India has about 4 per cent of the world’s water resources.
(B) Annual precipitation in India is about 4000 cubic km. — Correct. The total water available from precipitation in a year is about 4,000 cubic km.
(C) Total utilisable water resource in the country is only 1869 cubic km. — Incorrect. 1,869 cubic km is the water available from surface water and replenishable groundwater. Only 60 per cent of it can be put to use, so the utilisable water is only 1,122 cubic km. NTA took the 1,869 cubic km from one line and pinned it on the next one. When a line has two numbers, learn which number goes with which word.
(D) Agriculture accounts for most of the surface and groundwater utilisation. — Correct. Agriculture uses 89 per cent of the surface water and 92 per cent of the groundwater, mainly for irrigation.
NCERT (2026-27): “Water Resources of India … India accounts for about 2.45 per cent of the world’s surface area, 4 per cent of the world’s water resources and more than 17 per cent of the world’s population. The total water available from precipitation in the country in a year is about 4,000 cubic km. The availability from surface water and replenishable groundwater is 1,869 cubic km. Out of this, only 60 per cent can be put to beneficial uses. Thus, the total utilisable water resource in the country is only 1,122 cubic km.” “Water Demand and Utilisation … Agriculture accounts for most of the surface and groundwater utilisation, it accounts for 89 per cent of the surface water and 92 per cent of the groundwater utilisation.” |