Q. Consider the following statements:
1.India is the largest user of groundwater in the world.
2.Around 70% of groundwater is used for agriculture in India.
3.India’s overall groundwater extraction rate has increased in recent years.
4.Groundwater in Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu shows the highest levels of nitrate contamination.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: C
Notes:
Explanations –
Statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct. India is the largest extractor of groundwater globally, using more than the United States and China combined, with annual usage exceeding 240 billion cubic meters. Approximately 70% of groundwater extracted in India (and globally) is used for agriculture, primarily for irrigation. Rajasthan (49%), Karnataka (48%), and Tamil Nadu (37%) report the highest levels of nitrate contamination in groundwater.
Statement 3 is incorrect. India’s overall groundwater extraction rate has remained relatively stable at around 60.4% since 2009. However, certain regions like Punjab and Rajasthan continue to face overexploitation.
Source: The Hindu
