Consider the following statements : 36% of India's districts are cl

Consider the following statements :

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

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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1 only

2 and 3 only

2 only

1 and 3 only

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2020

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Statements 2 and 3 are correct. The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act, and India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation globally. Statement 1, regarding 36% of districts being classified as overexploited or critical, is likely an incorrect generalization or based on a misleading interpretation, as CGWA classifies assessment units (blocks, talukas, etc.) rather than entire districts in this manner.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The Central Ground Water Authority assesses groundwater conditions at the level of ‘assessment units’ (blocks, talukas, mandals, watersheds), not typically whole districts. While a significant percentage of assessment units are classified as overexploited or critical (e.g., around 17% overexploited and 5% critical as per 2020 data), it’s inaccurate to state that 36% of *districts* are classified as such.
Statement 2 is correct. The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) was constituted by the Government of India under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Statement 3 is correct. India is the world’s largest user of groundwater, primarily for agricultural irrigation. It has the largest area irrigated by groundwater sources globally.

CGWA is tasked with the regulation and control of groundwater development and management in the country. The excessive reliance on groundwater for irrigation and other uses has led to significant depletion of water tables in many parts of India. The assessment of groundwater resources and categorization into safe, semi-critical, critical, and over-exploited blocks is done periodically by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Groundwater Departments.

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