UPSC Prelims 2020 Question:

Consider the following statements

1. 36% of India's districts are classified as "overexploited" or "critical" by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). 
2. CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act. 
3. India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world.
   
   

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation:

• Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) was established under Section 3 (3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate and control the development and management of ground water resources in the country. So, statement 2 is correct.
  
  
• The majority of irrigation in India is based on groundwater wells. India has the world's largest groundwater well equipped irrigation system, covering 39 million hectares (67% of total irrigation). It is followed by China with 19 mha and the USA with 17 mha. So,  statement 3 is correct.
  
  
• The ground water resources are assessed in four categories - Safe, Semi-critical, Critical and Overexploited. As per the data from CGWA, in 2017, 36% of India's districts were classified as overexploited or critical or semicritical. So, point 1 is not correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer.

Subject: Geography | Land and Water Resources