In which of the following river basins, the utilisation of replenishable groundwater is the highest?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Krishna
Groundwater use is relatively high in the river basins of the north-western region and parts of south India.
Option (1) Tapi — Incorrect. The Tapi Basin lies in western India, north of the Godavari Basin. It is not in south India.
Option (2) Narmada — Incorrect. The Narmada Basin lies just north of the Tapi Basin. It is not in south India either.
Option (3) Krishna — Correct. The Krishna Basin lies in the south of the Peninsula, in the part of India where groundwater use is high.
Option (4) Mahanadi — Incorrect. The Mahanadi Basin lies in the east of the Peninsula, north of the Godavari Basin. It is not in the north-western region or in south India.
Note: The given answer is as per the official NTA Answer Key. The book does not give groundwater use for each river basin. It only says that groundwater use is relatively high in the river basins of the north-western region and parts of south India. Of the four basins, only the Krishna Basin lies in south India, as the River Basins map below shows.
NCERT (2026-27): “Groundwater Resources … The total replenishable groundwater resources in the country are about 432 cubic km. The level of groundwater utilisation is relatively high in the river basins lying in north-western region and parts of south India.”
Fig. 4.1 : India – River Basins |
