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India remains the world's largest extractor of groundwater
വാർത്തയിൽ എന്തുകൊണ്ട്?
World's biggest groundwater extractor is India: the CGWB assessment role GS1/GS3 water questions test
India is the world's largest groundwater extractor; the CGWB assesses the resource with the States.
Why it matters: asked in UPSC 2023; factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 മിനിറ്റ്
India extracts more groundwater than any other country, with irrigation accounting for the bulk of the draw.
Groundwater resources are assessed periodically by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, together with the States.
ഉറവിടങ്ങൾ: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
പ്രധാന വസ്തുതകൾ
Remember these
- India extracts more groundwater than any other country in the world.
- Irrigation accounts for the bulk of India's groundwater draw.
- The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) functions under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- CGWB assesses groundwater resources periodically together with the States.
- CGWB is the apex national agency for scientific groundwater management and development.
പ്രിലിംസ് · മെയിൻസ്
How the exam will ask it
പ്രിലിംസ്
- The Central Ground Water Board is a subordinate office of the Ministry of Jal Shakti and is responsible for scientific management of groundwater.
- Groundwater resource assessment in India is carried out jointly by the CGWB and the State governments.
- The Central Water Commission, unlike the CGWB, mainly deals with surface-water planning and flood forecasting.
- Irrigation is the largest user of groundwater in India.
മെയിൻസ്
GS1/GS3 (Water resources, Environment, Agriculture). India's heavy, irrigation-driven groundwater extraction threatens aquifers and long-term water security; CGWB assessments with States guide regulation and policy. Way forward: efficient irrigation, crop diversification, aquifer recharge, demand-side management and data-based State-level regulation.
PYQ connection
A question UPSC has already asked on this
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?
- Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
- Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
- Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
- Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
ഉത്തരം കാണിക്കൂ
ഉത്തരം: C
Why this matters: today's issue is directly connected to a concept UPSC has already tested. Read the story with this question in mind.
Practise this PYQ →Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
Which one of the following is the national agency under the Ministry of Jal Shakti responsible for scientific management of the country's groundwater resources?
- Central Ground Water Board
- Central Water Commission
- National Water Development Agency
- Brahmaputra Board
ഉത്തരം കാണിക്കൂ
ഉത്തരം: A — The correct answer is the Central Ground Water Board. It is the apex body for scientific groundwater assessment, development and management in India.
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