General Studies 2025 GS Paper III 15 marks 250 words Compulsory Examine

Q13

Examine the factors responsible for depleting groundwater in India. What are the steps taken by the government to mitigate such depletion of groundwater ? (Answer in 250 words) 15

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

भारत में घटते भूजल के लिए उत्तरदायी कारकों का परीक्षण कीजिए। भूजल में ऐसी क्षीणता को कम करने के लिए सरकार ने क्या कदम उठाए हैं ? (उत्तर 250 शब्दों में दीजिए)

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Directive word: Examine

This question asks you to examine. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'examine' requires a critical investigation of causative factors behind groundwater depletion followed by an evaluative assessment of government interventions. Structure as: brief introduction contextualizing India's groundwater crisis → two balanced body sections (factors: natural + anthropogenic; mitigation: policy, legal, technological measures) → forward-looking conclusion with critical gaps or recommendations.

Key points expected

Natural factors: erratic monsoon, hard rock aquifers in peninsular India, limited surface water storage
Anthropogenic drivers: agricultural over-extraction (paddy-wheat cycle, sugarcane), urbanization, industrial demand, inefficient irrigation (flood irrigation dominance)
Policy interventions: National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM), Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Atal Bhujal Yojana (community-led groundwater management)
Legal-regulatory measures: Model Groundwater Bill 2016, Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) notifications, ban on new tubewells in notified areas
Technological solutions: micro-irrigation (PMKSY), artificial recharge structures, rainwater harvesting mandates
Critical gaps: weak enforcement, electricity subsidies encouraging extraction, lack of crop diversification, inter-state aquifer disputes

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	3	Correctly interprets 'examine' as requiring critical investigation of causative factors with interconnections, not mere listing; treats mitigation measures evaluatively rather than descriptively	Partially addresses 'examine' with some causal analysis but slips into description; covers both parts of question without evaluative depth	Misreads directive as 'list' or 'describe'; provides fragmented coverage with no causal linkage between factors and depletion
Content depth & accuracy	20%	3	Demonstrates nuanced understanding of aquifer-specific challenges (alluvial vs. hard rock), distinguishes between shallow and deep aquifer depletion, accurately names current schemes with ministry attribution	Covers major factors and schemes with minor factual errors; conflates some programs or misses recent initiatives like Atal Bhujal Yojana	Significant factual errors (e.g., confusing surface water schemes with groundwater); outdated information; omits either factors or mitigation entirely
Structure & flow	20%	3	Clear two-part architecture with internal logical progression (natural→anthropogenic; demand-side→supply-side measures); smooth transitions; balanced word allocation (~120 words each section)	Recognizable structure but uneven weightage or abrupt shifts; some repetition between factors and mitigation sections	Disorganized or lopsided (one part dominates); no paragraph breaks; circular argumentation; exceeds word limit significantly
Examples / case-law / data	20%	3	Cites specific data (e.g., CGWB reports: 17% groundwater blocks 'over-exploited'; Punjab/Haryana water table decline rates); references SC judgments (e.g., MC Mehta on groundwater as public trust); mentions state-specific cases (Dark Zone notifications)	Generic references to 'northern states' or 'some reports'; no specific data points or case law; mentions schemes without implementation status	No examples or data; factually incorrect references; irrelevant international examples dominating Indian context
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	3	Synthesizes with critical insight—identifies why measures underperform (subsidy politics, MSP distortions, weak aquifer governance); offers concrete forward path (crop diversification, aquifer-based planning, pricing reform)	Safe summary restating points; generic 'need political will' conclusion without specificity; no critical evaluation of government steps	Absent or abrupt conclusion; introduces new arguments in conclusion; purely aspirational without analytical grounding

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