Water Resources Class 10 MCQs with Answers
Practice Class 10 Water Resources MCQs with answers and concise very short answer questions covering water scarcity, conservation, multipurpose projects, rainwater harvesting, traditional water-management systems and important Geography concepts.
Water Resources — Multiple Choice Questions
Class 10 Geography revision: These Water Resources MCQs cover water scarcity, conservation and management, multipurpose river projects, dams, rainwater harvesting, traditional systems such as khadins, tankas and guls or kuls, and water-related schemes.
What percentage of the world’s water is freshwater?
What is meant by water scarcity?
On which river has the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam been constructed?
Approximately what percentage of the Earth’s surface is covered with water?
What is India’s rank among countries in terms of water availability per person per year?
According to the textbook-era prediction, nearly two billion people would live in absolute water scarcity by –
Which state was the first in India to make rooftop rainwater harvesting compulsory across the state?
Why is rainwater especially valuable in the Thar region of Rajasthan?
Which river is popularly known as the ‘Dakshin Ganga’?
Tungabhadra reservoir is across the river –
Which movement opposed the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River?
In which region are diversion channels called ‘guls’ or ‘kuls’ traditionally used?
Why is only a small proportion of Earth’s water readily available as usable freshwater?
Freshwater is mainly obtained from which sources?
Why is water conservation necessary even though water is a renewable resource?
What is the most common cause of water scarcity, according to the chapter?
Which sector is the largest consumer of water?
What does the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aim to provide?
Which scheme is implemented in water-stressed Gram Panchayats across seven states, including Gujarat, Haryana, and Rajasthan?
In ancient India, sophisticated water harvesting systems channelling floodwater of the river Ganga existed at:
Who constructed the tank in Hauz Khas, Delhi in the 14th century?
Jawaharlal Nehru referred to dams as:
The Bhakra–Nangal project is located in which river basin?
The Hirakud project, which integrates conservation of water with flood control, is located in which river basin?
Which of the following is NOT a criticism of large dams and multi-purpose projects?
The Sardar Sarovar Dam is built on which river?
The Sardar Sarovar Project covers which four states?
The Krishna-Godavari water dispute involves objections raised by which states regarding diversion of water at Koyna?
In the Western Himalayas, diversion channels for agriculture built by local people are known as:
In arid regions like Jaisalmer, rain-fed storage structures used to moisten agricultural fields are called:
Underground tanks traditionally used for storing drinking water in Bikaner, Phalodi, and Barmer are called:
What is rainwater popularly called in the Thar Desert region of Rajasthan?
Which village in Mysuru, Karnataka, is known for successfully adapting rooftop rainwater harvesting?
Rooftop rainwater harvesting is most commonly practised in which city, despite it being located near the wettest places on Earth?
Which two places near Shillong receive the highest rainfall in the world?
Which state was the first in India to make rooftop rainwater harvesting structures compulsory for all houses, with legal provisions to punish defaulters?
The 200-year-old bamboo-pipe system used to tap stream and spring water is traditionally practised in:
In the bamboo drip irrigation system, water flow at the plant site typically reduces to about:
What did the multi-purpose projects fail to effectively control, despite being built partly for that purpose?
Sedimentation in reservoirs deprives floodplains of which natural fertiliser?
A change in cropping pattern toward water-intensive commercial crops due to irrigation has led to which ecological problem?
Which scheme focuses on "har khet ko pani" (water to every field) and "per drop more crop"?
Check Your Answers
- 1.A2.5%
- 2.AA shortage of water compared with demand
- 3.BRiver Krishna
- 4.AAbout 70%
- 5.D133rd
- 6.C2025
- 7.BTamil Nadu
- 8.BRainfall is limited and seasonal, so collected rainwater is an important source
- 9.BGodavari
- 10.CTungabhadra
- 11.BNarmada Bachao Andolan
- 12.BWestern Himalayas
- 13.BFreshwater is mainly stored in forms that are not readily accessible
- 14.BSurface runoff and groundwater
- 15.BUsable freshwater is limited, unevenly distributed and under growing pressure
- 16.BOver-exploitation, excessive use, and unequal access to water
- 17.CIrrigated agriculture
- 18.BPotable piped water at 55 litres per capita per day to rural households
- 19.BAtal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal)
- 20.BSringaverapura, near Allahabad
- 21.BIltutmish
- 22.BTemples of modern India
- 23.BSutluj-Beas basin
- 24.BMahanadi basin
- 25.CThey ensure equal distribution of water to all social groups
- 26.BNarmada
- 27.BMaharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan
- 28.BKarnataka and Andhra Pradesh
- 29.CGuls or Kuls
- 30.BKhadins
- 31.BTankas
- 32.BPalar pani
- 33.BGendathur
- 34.BShillong
- 35.BCherapunjee and Mawsynram
- 36.BTamil Nadu
- 37.BMeghalaya
- 38.B20–80 drops per minute
- 39.BFloods
- 40.BSilt
- 41.BSalinisation of soil
- 42.CPradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
Very Short Answer Questions — Water Resources
What is water scarcity?
Water scarcity is a situation in which the availability of usable water is insufficient to meet the needs of people, agriculture, industry or ecosystems.
Why is water a renewable resource?
Water is continuously renewed through the hydrological cycle, including evaporation, condensation and precipitation.
Why can water scarcity occur even in regions with sufficient rainfall?
Water scarcity can result from over-exploitation, unequal access, growing demand, pollution and poor management, not only from low rainfall.
Why has irrigation increased the demand for water in India?
Irrigation supports agriculture and has expanded with the cultivation of water-intensive crops, increasing the demand for freshwater.
Which sector is the largest consumer of water?
Irrigated agriculture is the largest consumer of water.
What is meant by a multipurpose river project?
It is a project designed to use river water for several purposes, such as irrigation, electricity generation, flood control and other needs.
Name two major multipurpose projects mentioned in the chapter.
The Bhakra–Nangal Project and the Hirakud Project are two major multipurpose projects.
What is a dam?
A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often creating a reservoir or lake.
Why are multipurpose projects called ‘multi-purpose’?
They serve several functions, such as irrigation, hydel power generation, flood control, water supply and inland navigation.
Why have large dams faced opposition?
They can displace people, submerge vegetation and soil, disturb river ecosystems, alter sediment flow and create other social and environmental problems.
What ecological problem can excessive sedimentation in reservoirs cause?
It reduces the natural flow of sediment downstream and can create rockier stream beds and poorer habitats for aquatic life.
How can irrigation cause soil degradation?
Excessive irrigation can lead to waterlogging and salinity, degrading the soil.
What was special about Sringaverapura near Allahabad?
In the first century B.C., it had a sophisticated water-harvesting system that channelled floodwater of the Ganga.
Who constructed the tank at Hauz Khas, Delhi, and for what purpose?
Iltutmish constructed the tank in the 14th century to supply water to the Siri Fort area.
What are guls or kuls?
They are diversion channels traditionally used in the Western Himalayas to carry water to agricultural fields.
What are khadins?
Khadins are rain-fed storage structures used in arid and semi-arid regions to collect water and moisten agricultural fields.
What are johads?
Johads are traditional water-harvesting structures used in parts of Rajasthan to collect and store water.
What are tankas?
Tankas are underground storage tanks traditionally used in Rajasthan to store drinking water, often collecting rooftop rainwater.
What is ‘palar pani’?
Palar pani is the local term commonly used for rainwater in the Thar region of Rajasthan.
What is rooftop rainwater harvesting?
It is the collection of rainwater falling on rooftops and its storage or recharge for later use.
Which village in Karnataka is known for rooftop rainwater harvesting?
Gendathur village in Mysuru district is known for adapting rooftop rainwater harvesting.
Which state was the first in India to make rooftop rainwater harvesting compulsory?
Tamil Nadu was the first state to make rooftop rainwater harvesting compulsory statewide.
Where is bamboo drip irrigation traditionally practised?
Bamboo drip irrigation is traditionally practised in Meghalaya.
What is the basic idea of bamboo drip irrigation?
Bamboo pipes tap stream or spring water and carry it gradually to plants, reducing the flow to a small number of drops at the plant site.
Why is rainwater harvesting important in Rajasthan?
It provides a dependable source of drinking water in arid and semi-arid areas where surface water is scarce and rainfall is limited and seasonal.
Why is water conservation necessary for sustainable development?
Conserving water protects freshwater supplies, supports agriculture and ecosystems, reduces wastage and helps meet future needs.
What is the main purpose of rainwater harvesting?
The main purpose is to collect and store rainwater or recharge groundwater so that water remains available when needed.