UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT Paper II · Q1 of 77 Comprehension medium

Passage

We often hear about conflicts among different States in India over river waters. Of the 20 major river systems, 14 are already water-stressed; 75% of the population lives in water-stressed regions, a third of whom live in water-scarce areas. Climate change, the demands of rising population and the need for agriculture to keep pace, and increased rate of urbanization and industrialization will exacerbate water stress. According to the Constitution of India, water is a State subject and not that of the Union, except for regulation of inter-State rivers. Key to ensuring balance between competing demands of various stakeholders is a basin-based approach to allocate water amongst constituent regions and States. Allocating fair share of water to them requires assessments based on objective criteria, such as specificities of the river basin, size of dependent population, existing water use and demand, efficiency of use, projected future use, etc. while ensuring the environmental needs of the river and aquifers.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most rational, practical and immediate action required to ensure fair and equitable allocation of water to different stakeholders ?

  1. (a) A national, pragmatic, legal and policy framework for water allocation should be made. ✓ UPSC's answer
  2. (b) All river systems of the country should be linked and huge aquifers created.
  3. (c) Water channels between regions of water surplus and regions of water deficit should be created.
  4. (d) To mitigate water crisis, water demand of sectors such as agriculture and industry should be reduced.

Why the answer is (a)

• The passage explicitly states that water is a State subject under the Constitution, except for the regulation of inter-State rivers, which necessitates a unified legal and policy framework to manage these exceptions effectively.

• It identifies the 'basin-based approach' as the key to ensuring balance, which requires assessments based on objective criteria like river basin specificities, population size, and existing water use.

• Such a basin-based allocation mechanism cannot function without a national, pragmatic, legal, and policy framework to standardize these objective criteria across different States.

• The passage highlights that climate change, population growth, and urbanization will exacerbate water stress, making an immediate, structured policy framework essential for rational and equitable distribution.

• Therefore, establishing a national framework is the most rational, practical, and immediate action to ensure fair allocation among competing stakeholders as described in the text.

Why the other options are wrong

(b) All river systems of the country should be linked and huge aquifers created.
The passage does not suggest linking all river systems or creating huge aquifers, but rather emphasizes a basin-based approach for allocation based on objective criteria.
(c) Water channels between regions of water surplus and regions of water deficit should be…
The passage focuses on allocating water within river basins based on specificities and demand, not on creating channels to transfer water between surplus and deficit regions.
(d) To mitigate water crisis, water demand of sectors such as agriculture and industry should…
The passage states that the need for agriculture to keep pace and industrialization will exacerbate water stress, implying that reducing demand is not the primary solution but rather managing allocation through a basin-based approach.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2023, held on 28 May 2023. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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