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1. What proportion of the Earth's surface is covered with water?
A. Three-fourth
B. One-fourth
C. Half
D. Two-third
Answer: A. Three-fourth
Explanation: Three-fourth of the earth's surface is covered with water, but only a small proportion of it accounts for freshwater that can be put to use.
2. What percentage of the total volume of world's water is estimated to exist as oceans?
A. 96.5%
B. 71%
C. 85%
D. 90%
Answer: A. 96.5%
Explanation: 96.5 per cent of the total volume of world's water is estimated to exist as oceans and only 2.5 per cent exists as freshwater.
3. What percentage of global freshwater is stored as ice sheets and glaciers in Antarctica, Greenland, and mountainous regions?
A. Nearly 70%
B. Nearly 30%
C. Nearly 50%
D. Nearly 90%
Answer: A. Nearly 70%
Explanation: Nearly 70 per cent of total global freshwater occurs as ice sheets and glaciers, while a little less than 30 per cent is stored as groundwater.
4. India receives nearly what percentage of global precipitation?
A. 4%
B. 10%
C. 2.4%
D. 7%
Answer: A. 4%
Explanation: India receives nearly 4 per cent of the global precipitation and ranks 133 in the world in terms of water availability per person per annum.
5. According to Falkenmark, water stress occurs when water availability is less than how many cubic metres per person per year?
A. 1,000 cubic metres
B. 2,000 cubic metres
C. 500 cubic metres
D. 1,700 cubic metres
Answer: A. 1,000 cubic metres
Explanation: According to Swedish expert Falkenmark, water scarcity occurs when water availability is between 1,000 and 1,700 cubic metres per person per year, and severe water stress happens below 1,000 m³.
6. Who famously referred to multi-purpose dams as the "Temples of modern India"?
A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. Mahatma Gandhi
C. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
D. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Answer: A. Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation: Jawaharlal Nehru proudly proclaimed multi-purpose dams as the 'temples of modern India' as they would integrate agriculture with rapid industrialization.
7. The Bhakra-Nangal dam project is constructed on which river system?
A. Satluj-Beas river basin
B. Mahanadi river basin
C. Narmada river basin
D. Krishna river basin
Answer: A. Satluj-Beas river basin
Explanation: In the Satluj-Beas river basin, the Bhakra-Nangal project water is being used both for hydel power production and irrigation.
8. Hirakud Dam, which integrates conservation of water with flood control, is built on which river?
A. Mahanadi
B. Godavari
C. Kaveri
D. Tapi
Answer: A. Mahanadi
Explanation: The Hirakud project in the Mahanadi basin integrates conservation of water with flood management in Odisha.
9. 'Narmada Bachao Andolan' is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that mobilized against which dam project?
A. Sardar Sarovar Dam
B. Tehri Dam
C. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
D. Hirakud Dam
Answer: A. Sardar Sarovar Dam
Explanation: Narmada Bachao Andolan is an NGO that mobilized tribal people, farmers, environmentalists, and human rights activists against the Sardar Sarovar Dam built over the Narmada river.
10. Sardar Sarovar Dam is built on which river and serves states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan?
A. Narmada River
B. Sabarmati River
C. Tapi River
D. Luni River
Answer: A. Narmada River
Explanation: Sardar Sarovar Dam has been built over the Narmada River in Gujarat, covering drought-prone areas in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
11. In western Himalayas, diversion channels built for agriculture are locally known as:
A. Guls or Kuls
B. Khadins
C. Johads
D. Tankas
Answer: A. Guls or Kuls
Explanation: People in hill and mountain regions built diversion channels like the 'guls' or 'kuls' of the Western Himalayas for agriculture.
12. Agricultural fields converted into rain-fed storage structures that allowed water to stand and moisten the soil in Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) are called:
A. Khadins
B. Johads
C. Tankas
D. Baolis
Answer: A. Khadins
Explanation: In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rain-fed storage structures called 'Khadins' in Jaisalmer and 'Johads' in other parts of Rajasthan.
13. In the semi-arid regions of Rajasthan (Bikaner, Phalodi, and Barmer), underground tanks built inside houses for storing drinking water are called:
A. Tankas
B. Guls
C. Khadins
D. Kuls
Answer: A. Tankas
Explanation: Underground tanks or 'tankas' for storing drinking water were traditionally constructed inside the main house or courtyard in Phalodi, Bikaner, and Barmer.
14. What is rainwater locally referred to as in arid parts of Rajasthan, considered the purest form of natural water?
A. Palar Pani
B. Baoli Pani
C. Johad Pani
D. Kul Water
Answer: A. Palar Pani
Explanation: Rainwater, or 'Palar Pani' as it is commonly referred to in these parts, is considered the purest form of natural water in arid Rajasthan.
15. Bamboo drip irrigation system is a 200-year-old traditional water harvesting method widely practiced in which state?
A. Meghalaya
B. Mizoram
C. Nagaland
D. Assam
Answer: A. Meghalaya
Explanation: In Meghalaya, a 200-year-old system of tapping stream and spring water by using bamboo pipes is practiced for irrigation.
16. Which Indian state is the first in the country to make rooftop rainwater harvesting compulsory for all houses across the state?
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Rajasthan
C. Karnataka
D. Maharashtra
Answer: A. Tamil Nadu
Explanation: Tamil Nadu is the first state in India which has made rooftop rainwater harvesting structure compulsory to all the houses across the state.
17. In Gendathur, a remote village in Mysuru district of Karnataka, how many household units installed rooftop rainwater harvesting systems?
A. 200 households
B. 500 households
C. 100 households
D. 1000 households
Answer: A. 200 households
Explanation: In Gendathur village in Karnataka, nearly 200 households have installed rooftop rainwater harvesting systems, earning the village a rare distinction.
18. Mawsynram and Cherrapunji, famous for receiving the world's highest rainfall, are located in which hills of Meghalaya?
A. Khasi Hills
B. Garo Hills
C. Jaintia Hills
D. Lushai Hills
Answer: A. Khasi Hills
Explanation: Mawsynram and Cherrapunji are located in the Southern crest of Khasi Hills in Meghalaya, receiving the highest rainfall in the world.
19. Despite receiving high rainfall, the capital city Shillong faces acute water shortage due to which reason?
A. Nearly all household requirement is met by rooftop harvesting as piped water is scarce
B. Total pollution of river systems
C. Complete absence of groundwater recharge
D. Deforestation on nearby hills
Answer: A. Nearly all household requirement is met by rooftop harvesting as piped water is scarce
Explanation: Shillong is just 55 km from Mawsynram, yet faces acute water shortage. Nearly 15-25% of household water requirement is met through rooftop rainwater harvesting.
20. In urban areas, water availability is impacted heavily by water quality deterioration caused by which factors?
A. Domestic and industrial wastes, chemicals, and pesticides
B. Excessive snowfall
C. Desalination plants
D. Afforestation projects
Answer: A. Domestic and industrial wastes, chemicals, and pesticides
Explanation: Even where water is sufficiently available, it can be polluted by domestic and industrial wastes, chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers used in agriculture.
21. What is a hydraulic structure built across a river to obstruct or retard the flow of water, creating a reservoir or impoundment?
A. Dam
B. Canal
C. Aqueduct
D. Embankment
Answer: A. Dam
Explanation: A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often creating a reservoir, lake, or impoundment.
22. Sringaverapura near Allahabad had an extraordinary water harvesting system built in the 1st Century BC to channel floodwater of which river?
A. Ganga River
B. Yamuna River
C. Indus River
D. Narmada River
Answer: A. Ganga River
Explanation: In the 1st century B.C., Sringaverapura near Allahabad had a sophisticated water harvesting system channeling the flood water of the river Ganga.
23. During the reign of Chandragupta Maurya, dams, lakes, and irrigation systems were extensively built in which region?
A. Across various parts of the Mauryan Empire
B. Only in Southern India
C. Exclusively in coastal Odisha
D. Only in the Himalayan region
Answer: A. Across various parts of the Mauryan Empire
Explanation: Historical records show that during the time of Chandragupta Maurya, dams, lakes and irrigation systems were extensively built throughout the empire.
24. Bhopal Lake, one of the largest artificial lakes of its time, was constructed in which century?
A. 11th Century
B. 14th Century
C. 7th Century
D. 18th Century
Answer: A. 11th Century
Explanation: In the 11th Century, Bhopal Lake, one of the largest artificial lakes of its time, was built.
25. In the 14th century, Iltutmish constructed the tank at Hauz Khas in Delhi to supply water to which area?
A. Siri Fort area
B. Red Fort area
C. Qutub Minar complex
D. Chandni Chowk
Answer: A. Siri Fort area
Explanation: In the 14th Century, the tank in Hauz Khas, Delhi was constructed by Iltutmish for supplying water to the Siri Fort area.
26. Tehri Dam project on the Bhagirathi river faced massive resistance movement in which state?
A. Uttarakhand
B. Himachal Pradesh
C. Jammu & Kashmir
D. Sikkim
Answer: A. Uttarakhand
Explanation: Tehri Dam Andolan was organized in Uttarakhand against the construction of a giant hydro-electric project on river Bhagirathi.
27. Which ecological impact is caused by large reservoirs created by dams on local riverbeds?
A. Excessive sedimentation at the bottom leading to rockier stream beds
B. Complete prevention of soil erosion
C. Rapid increase in native migratory fish species
D. Permanent eradication of floods
Answer: A. Excessive sedimentation at the bottom leading to rockier stream beds
Explanation: Damming of rivers regulates their flow, causing excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir, resulting in rockier stream beds and poorer habitats for aquatic life.
28. Interstate water disputes are common in India. The Krishna-Godavari dispute is primarily between which states?
A. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra
B. Tamil Nadu and Kerala
C. Punjab and Haryana
D. Gujarat and Rajasthan
Answer: A. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra
Explanation: The Krishna-Godavari dispute arose due to objections raised by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments regarding diversion of water by Maharashtra for Koyna hydel project.
29. In Gujarat, farmers in the Sabarmati basin agitated over which issue related to dam water distribution?
A. Higher priority given to urban areas during droughts
B. Excessive water supply to agriculture
C. Low electricity tariff for groundwater pumping
D. Contamination by industrial chemicals
Answer: A. Higher priority given to urban areas during droughts
Explanation: In Gujarat, Sabarmati-basin farmers were agitated and almost caused a riot over the higher priority given to water supply in urban areas, particularly during droughts.
30. In flood plains of Bengal, people developed which type of channels to irrigate their fields?
A. Inundation channels
B. Bamboo pipes
C. Khadins
D. Tankas
Answer: A. Inundation channels
Explanation: In the flood plains of Bengal, people developed inundation channels to irrigate their agricultural fields using river floodwaters.
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