UPSC – CSE Prelims 2023
CURRENT AFFAIRS – SOCIAL ISSUES
1. 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?
(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-l
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Answer: (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
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. This statement is correct. The report highlights that India is one of the countries with significant groundwater extraction, accounting for more than 25% of the global groundwater withdrawal annually.
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 the world’s population living in its territory. This statement is incorrect. While India does have a large population and faces significant challenges in meeting its water needs, it does not need to extract more than a quarter of the world’s groundwater to fulfill drinking water and sanitation requirements. The water needs of a population are influenced by various factors, including water availability, efficiency, management, and infrastructure.