UPSC Prelims 2012 · GS Paper I
Question 5: Environment and Ecology
If National Water Mission is properly and completely implemented, how will it impact the country?
- 1.Part of the water needs of urban areas will be met through recycling of waste-water.
- 2.The water requirements of coastal cities with inadequate alternative sources of water will be met by adopting appropriate technologies that allow for the use of ocean water.
- 3.All the rivers of Himalayan origin will be linked to the rivers of peninsular India.
- 4.The expenses incurred by farmers for digging bore-wells and for installing motors and pump-sets to draw ground-water will be completely reimbursed by the Government.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
The National Water Mission is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change. It aims to conserve water, cut wastage, distribute it more equitably and raise water-use efficiency by 20 per cent. It promotes recycling of waste-water to meet part of urban needs and technologies such as desalination for coastal cities. It does not link all Himalayan rivers to peninsular rivers, nor does it reimburse farmers' bore-well and pump-set costs.
- 1. Recycling waste-water to meet part of urban demand is a stated aim.
- 2. The Mission promotes technologies, including desalination, to supply coastal cities.
- 3. Linking all Himalayan rivers to peninsular rivers is not a Mission objective.
- 4. The government does not completely reimburse farmers' bore-well and pump-set expenses under it.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 3.
What you needed to know: Linking all Himalayan rivers to peninsular rivers is not a Mission objective.
The red flag in statement 3 is “all”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “all” were true 41% of the time (76 statements). A hint, not a rule.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: The Mission promotes technologies, including desalination, to supply coastal cities.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 1 or 4.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incomplete: desalination and ocean-water technologies for coastal cities are also part of the Mission.
- (b) Correct: statements 1 and 2 are objectives of the Mission.
- (c) Wrong: neither river linking of all Himalayan rivers nor full reimbursement of farmers' costs is a Mission goal.
- (d) Wrong: statements 3 and 4 promise things the Mission does not.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.