UPSC Prelims 2020 · GS Paper I
Question 98: Geography
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 ?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
The Central Ground Water Authority was constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, so statement 2 is right, and India has the largest area irrigated by groundwater in the world, so statement 3 is right. UPSC treats statement 1 as incorrect: the CGWA classifies assessment units such as blocks, not whole districts, and the 36 per cent district figure is not accepted.
- 1. CGWA classifies assessment units such as blocks, and the 36 per cent district figure is not accepted.
- 2. CGWA was constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- 3. India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (d) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: CGWA classifies assessment units such as blocks, and the 36 per cent district figure is not accepted.
- Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (c) goes: it leaves 3 out.
What you needed to know: India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statement 2.
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) Wrong: statement 1 is marked incorrect.
- (b) Right: statements 2 and 3.
- (c) Wrong: statement 3 is also correct.
- (d) Wrong: statement 1 is incorrect.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2020, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.