Consider the following statements:
- Statement-I: According to the United Nations ‘World Water Development Report, 2022’. India extracts more than a quarter of the world’s groundwater withdrawal each year.
- Statement-II: India needs to extract more than a quarter of the world’s groundwater each year to satisfy the drinking water and sanitation needs of almost 18% of world’s population living in its territory.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
- Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
- Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
- Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct
- According to the report, Countries with the largest area under irrigation include China (73 Mha), India (70 Mha), the USA (27 Mha) and Pakistan (20 Mha). The proportion of total groundwater abstraction used for irrigation varies significantly in these countries. India, the largest groundwater user globally, at an estimated 251 km³ per year, uses 89% of its groundwater abstraction for irrigation.
Statement 2 is incorrect
- India uses approximately 89% (2022 report data) of its extracted groundwater for irrigation. This constitutes the major share of the total groundwater extracted in the country. The Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra plains, covering a mere 20% of the geographical area, possess 60% of the country’s groundwater resources, accentuating the concentrated distribution.
