UPSC Prelims 2022 GS Paper I · Q75 of 98 Environment & Ecology medium

Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 ?

  1. (a) Central Water Commission
  2. (b) Central Ground Water Board
  3. (c) Central Ground Water Authority ✓ UPSC's answer
  4. (d) National Water Development Agency

Why the answer is (c)

• The Central Ground Water Authority was constituted in 1997 under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, following a Supreme Court direction, to regulate and control groundwater development — option (c).

• It notifies over-exploited areas and issues no-objection certificates for groundwater extraction by industries and infrastructure projects.

• The Central Water Commission (1945) and Central Ground Water Board (1970) are technical organisations of the Jal Shakti Ministry set up by executive resolution, and the National Water Development Agency (1982) is a registered society for river-linking studies.

• Hence option (c).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Central Water Commission
The CWC was set up by executive resolution, not under the EPA.
(b) Central Ground Water Board
The CGWB is a technical body, not constituted under the EPA.
(d) National Water Development Agency
The NWDA is a registered society, not an EPA authority.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2022, held on 5 June 2022. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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