NCERT-aligned Class 10 Geography topic. Every item is anchored to a real location on India's map — built for boards (CBSE, ICSE, state) and UPSC aspirants.
How much of Earth's surface is covered by water, and how much is usable freshwater?
Three-fourths is covered by water, but only a small proportion is freshwater that can be put to use.
How does freshwater get renewed?
Through the hydrological cycle — surface run-off and groundwater are continually recharged, making water a renewable resource.
What does the standard textbook predict for global water scarcity by 2025?
Nearly two billion people will live in absolute water scarcity.
Is water scarcity always due to low rainfall?
No — most cases are caused by over-exploitation, excessive use, and unequal access among different social groups, even in regions with adequate rainfall.
How does industrialisation worsen water scarcity?
Industries are heavy water users AND need power to run — much of which comes from hydroelectricity, putting double pressure on freshwater.
How does urbanisation worsen water scarcity?
Dense urban populations + groundwater pumping by housing societies has led to fragile groundwater depletion in several cities.
What is the Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal)?
Scheme implemented in 8,220 water-stressed Gram Panchayats across 229 blocks in 80 districts of 7 states (Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, UP).
What share of India's water-stressed blocks does Atal Jal cover?
About 37% of all water-stressed (over-exploited, critical, and semi-critical) blocks in India.
What is the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)?
Scheme to enable every rural household to receive an assured supply of potable piped water at 55 litres per capita per day on a long-term basis (Source: Economic Survey 2020-21).
Beyond quantity, what is the second dimension of water scarcity?
Quality — water polluted by domestic + industrial wastes, chemicals, pesticides, and fertilisers can make supply hazardous even when ample.
What does the 1st-century-BCE site of SRINGAVERAPURA tell us about ancient Indian water engineering?
SRINGAVERAPURA (near Prayagraj, UP) preserves the remains of a remarkably sophisticated WATER-HARVESTING SYSTEM from around the 1st century BCE. Archaeologists have exposed a network of stepped tanks + brick-lined channels that captured the SEASONAL FLOOD WATER of the Ganga + stored it for the dry months. The engineering combined careful sediment management (settling tanks before the main reservoir), gravity-fed distribution, + flood-spillways. Sringaverapura is one of the earliest documented large-scale flood-water-harvesting works in India + shows ancient Indians had developed advanced hydraulic + civil engineering long before the medieval + colonial periods.
During whose reign were dams, lakes and irrigation systems extensively built?
Chandragupta Maurya (4th century BCE).
This topic is part of the NCERT Class 10 Geography syllabus, drawn from the chapter Ch 3: Water Resources. Content is cross-referenced against the latest NCERT textbook editions + standard reference works.
Use the interactive India map to learn water resources the way memory works best — by spatial location. Each pin opens a flashcard. Mark "Knew it" or "Didn't know" to track your mastery over time.
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