UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 89
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I : According to the United Nations' 'World Water Development Report, 2022', India extracts more than a quarter of the world's groundwater withdrawal each year.
Statement-II : India needs to extract more than a quarter of the world's groundwater each year to satisfy the drinking water and sanitation needs of almost 18% of world's population living in its territory.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
Correct Option: C (Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect)
Explanation: India withdraws more than one-quarter of global groundwater, but agriculture-not merely drinking water and sanitation for its population-accounts for the dominant share.
Statement / Pair / Item-wise Analysis:
I. Correct/True - UN World Water Development reporting identifies India as the largest groundwater extractor, exceeding one-quarter of withdrawals.
II. Incorrect/False - Most Indian groundwater abstraction serves irrigation; population-linked drinking and sanitation needs do not explain the cited share.
Option-wise Analysis:
A. Incorrect-Statement II is false: Most Indian groundwater abstraction serves irrigation; population-linked drinking and sanitation needs do not explain the cited share.
B. Incorrect-Statement II is false: Most Indian groundwater abstraction serves irrigation; population-linked drinking and sanitation needs do not explain the cited share.
C. Correct-only Statement I is true.
D. Incorrect-Statement I is true, not false: UN World Water Development reporting identifies India as the largest groundwater extractor, exceeding one-quarter of withdrawals.