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Extra questions and detailed answers from the CBSE 10th-grade Geography chapter on Water Resources
Updated:
May 7, 2023
The main topics covered in the CBSE Class 10 Geography chapter on Water Resources are:
1. Importance of Water Resources
2. Sources of Water in India
3. Distribution of Water Resources in India
4. Irrigation Systems in India
5. Water Pollution
6. Water Conservation
7. Programs and Policies for Managing Water Resources in India
8. International Cooperation for Managing Trans-boundary Water Resources
9. Climate Change and Water Resources
10. Adaptive Measures for Climate Change Mitigation in Water Resources
These topics are covered in detail in the chapter, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of water resources in India and the challenges involved in managing them.
Here are key notes of the CBSE Class 10 Geography chapter on Water Resources:
1. Water is a valuable resource that is essential for all living beings. It is used for various domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes.
2. India has diverse sources of water, including rivers, lakes, groundwater, and the sea. The country also has a monsoon climate, with most of the rainfall occurring during the monsoon season from June to September.
3. The distribution of water resources in India is uneven, with some regions facing water scarcity while others have an abundance of water. The major water-stressed regions include Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
4. India has several irrigation systems in place to manage water resources and provide water to farmlands. These include canals, wells, and tube wells.
5. Water pollution is a major problem in India, caused by domestic and industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and other sources. This pollution has serious impacts on the environment and human health.
6. Water conservation is essential to ensure the sustainable use of water resources. This can be done through various methods, such as rainwater harvesting, watershed management, and water recycling.
7. The government of India has implemented various programs and policies to manage water resources and address water-related issues. These include the National Water Policy, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
8. International cooperation is also important for managing trans-boundary water resources, such as rivers that flow through multiple countries. India has signed various agreements with neighboring countries, such as the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and the Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh, to manage shared water resources.
9. Climate change is expected to have significant impacts on India's water resources, with changes in rainfall patterns, increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and rising sea levels.
10. To mitigate the impacts of climate change on water resources, India needs to implement adaptive measures such as water conservation, drought preparedness, and flood management.
1. What are the two sources of groundwater?
Answer: The two sources of groundwater are natural recharge and artificial recharge.
2. What is water scarcity and which regions in India face it?
Answer: Water scarcity is the condition where the demand for water exceeds the available supply of water. The regions in India that face water scarcity include Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
3. What is an irrigation system and Name two traditional irrigation methods.
Answer: An irrigation system is a process of supplying water to agricultural land to promote plant growth. Two traditional irrigation methods are Dhekli and Rahat.
4. What is the impact of excessive use of chemical fertilizers on water resources?
Answer: The excessive use of chemical fertilizers leads to water pollution as these fertilizers contain nitrates that infiltrate into the groundwater and pollute it.
5. What is water pollution and what causes it?
Answer: Water pollution refers to the contamination of water bodies, such as rivers, lakes, and groundwater sources, with harmful substances. Causes of water pollution include domestic and industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and oil spills.
6. What is the significance of rainwater harvesting?
Answer: Rainwater harvesting is an important method of conserving water resources as it involves collecting rainwater and storing it for future use. It helps to recharge groundwater sources and reduces reliance on surface water sources.
7. What is the Jal Shakti Abhiyan and its objective?
Answer: Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a campaign launched by the Government of India to conserve water and ensure its sustainable use. The objective of the campaign is to reduce water scarcity by improving the water situation in 256 water-stressed districts of the country.
8. What is the primary objective of the National Water Policy?
Answer: The primary objective of the National Water Policy is to ensure the sustainable use of water resources and provide access to safe drinking water to all citizens of the country.
9. What are the adaptive measures for coping with climate change impacts on water resources?
Answer: The adaptive measures for coping with climate change impacts on water resources include rainwater harvesting, groundwater management, drought preparedness, flood management, and water conservation.
10. What is the Indus Water Treaty and its significance?
Answer: The Indus Water Treaty is a water-sharing agreement signed between India and Pakistan in 1960 to manage the distribution of water from the Indus River and its six tributaries. It is the most significant example of international water cooperation in the world.
11. What is the significance of watershed management?
Answer: Watershed management is important because it helps to conserve water and soil resources in a particular area by promoting water conservation and soil conservation practices. It also helps to recharge groundwater sources and protect the environment.
12. What is the impact of climate change on water resources?
Answer: Climate change is expected to have significant impacts on water resources, including changes in rainfall patterns, increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and rising sea levels. These impacts can lead to water scarcity, droughts, floods, and water-related disasters.
13. What is the Ganga Water Treaty and its significance?
Answer: The Ganga Water Treaty is a water-sharing agreement signed between India and Bangladesh in 1996 to manage the distribution of water from the Ganga River. It is significant because it is an example of international cooperation for managing shared water resources.
14. What are the benefits of water recycling?
Answer: Benefits of water recycling include reducing water consumption, reducing pollution, conserving energy, and reducing the strain on freshwater resources. It is an important method of conserving water resources and improving their sustainability.
15. What is the role of the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA)?
Answer: The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) is responsible for regulating and managing groundwater resources in India. Its role includes granting permits and conducting surveys to monitor groundwater extraction, promoting water conservation, and implementing groundwater protection measures where necessary.
16. What is the primary cause of water wastage in urban areas?
Answer: The primary cause of water wastage in urban areas is the inefficient use of water due to leakage in water supply systems, excessive water consumption, and inadequate maintenance of water infrastructure.
17. What is the impact of deforestation on water resources?
Answer: Deforestation leads to soil erosion, which pollutes water bodies and reduces their capacity to recharge groundwater resources. It also reduces the forest cover that helps to maintain the water cycle and the soil moisture level, leading to droughts, floods, and other water-related disasters.
18. What is virtual water and how can it be used to improve water management?
Answer: Virtual water is the amount of water required to produce a certain product or commodity, which is often transported across regions or countries. It can be used to improve water management by promoting water-efficient production methods and reducing the water footprint of products.
19. What is rainwater harvesting, and how does it work?
Answer: Rainwater harvesting is the process of collecting and storing rainwater for future use. It involves collecting rainwater from rooftops, surfaces, and runoff, and storing it in tanks or recharge structures. The collected water can be used for various purposes, such as irrigation, domestic use, and industrial applications.
20. What is the significance of dams in water management?
Answer: Dams are significant in water management as they help regulate the flow of water in rivers and streams, store water for future use, generate hydroelectric power, and provide flood control. They are also used for irrigation and water supply purposes, which can help in the sustainable management of water resources. However, the construction of dams can have some negative impacts on the environment and can lead to the displacement of local communities, so their impact on the environment and society must be carefully assessed before construction.
21. What are the different types of water resources?
Answer: The different types of water resources include surface water, groundwater, glacier water, and precipitation.
22. What is the importance of groundwater in India?
Answer: Groundwater is an important water resource in India, accounting for around 60% of the total irrigation needs of the country. It is also an important source of drinking water for rural communities.
23. What are the challenges of water management in India?
Answer: The challenges of water management in India include water scarcity, unsustainable use of water resources, inefficient water use, pollution of water bodies, inadequate infrastructure, and climate change impacts.
24. What is the National Water Mission, and what is its objective?
Answer: The National Water Mission is a program launched by the Government of India to conserve water resources, promote sustainable water use, and improve water security in the country. Its objective is to ensure integrated water resource management and provide access to safe drinking water to all by 2030.
25. What is waterlogging, and what causes it?
Answer: Waterlogging refers to the saturation of soil with water to the extent that plant growth is inhibited. It is caused by excessive irrigation, poor drainage, and flooding.
26. What is salinization, and how does it impact soil and water quality?
Answer: Salinization refers to the accumulation of salts in soil and water, which can impact the quality of both. It is caused by excessive use of irrigation water, which can lead to the buildup of salts in the soil. Salinization can reduce fertility and productivity of soil, and render it unsuitable for crop growth. It can also affect the quality of groundwater, making it unsuitable for drinking and irrigation purposes.
27. What is the significance of the National River Conservation Plan?
Answer: The National River Conservation Plan is a program launched by the Government of India to conserve and improve the quality of rivers in the country. It aims to reduce pollution, improve water quality, and promote sustainable use of river resources.
28. What are the different methods of improving irrigation efficiency?
Answer: Different methods of improving irrigation efficiency include drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, micro-irrigation, and precision farming. These methods use water more efficiently and effectively, helping to conserve water resources.
29. What are the causes of water pollution, and what are its impacts?
Answer: The causes of water pollution include industrial waste, agricultural runoff, domestic sewage, oil spills, and mining activities. The impacts of water pollution include reduced water quality, adverse impacts on aquatic and human life, and negative impacts on public health and the economy.
30. What are rainwater harvesting structures?
Answer: Rainwater harvesting structures are traditional and modern structures used to collect and store rainwater for future use. They include a variety of structures such as tanks, wells, ponds, and recharge structures.
1. Explain the water cycle and its importance in the water resources management.
Answer: The water cycle is the process of water moving between the atmosphere, land, and water bodies. It involves evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration into soil, and runoff to oceans and rivers. The importance of the water cycle in water resources management is that it helps to distribute water resources across regions and maintain a balance between water supply and demand. It also helps to recharge groundwater sources, improve soil moisture, and provide support for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. By understanding the water cycle, we can manage water resources sustainably, promote water conservation, and reduce the impacts of water-related disasters.
2. Discuss the main challenges facing water resources management in India.
Answer: Water resources management in India faces several challenges, including water scarcity, unsustainable use of water resources, inefficient water use, pollution of water bodies, inadequate infrastructure, and climate change impacts. Water scarcity is becoming a critical issue in many parts of the country, where demand is outstripping supply. Unsustainable use of water resources, such as over-extraction of groundwater, is leading to depletion of sources and lowering of water tables. Inefficient water use is leading to significant losses in irrigation, domestic and industrial sectors. Pollution of water bodies due to untreated sewage, industrial effluents, and agricultural runoff is causing a significant degradation of water
3. Explain different approaches to water conservation in India.
Answer: There are several approaches to water conservation in India, including promoting efficient irrigation practices, rainwater harvesting, wastewater reuse, and maintaining and restoring natural ecosystems. Efficient irrigation practices such as drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, and micro-irrigation can reduce water use in agriculture. Rainwater harvesting involves collecting rainwater and storing it for future use. Methods such as rooftop collection, ground storage, and recharge structures can be used to collect and store rainwater. Wastewater reuse involves treating and reusing wastewater for non-potable purposes, such as irrigation or industrial use. Finally, maintaining and restoring natural ecosystems such as wetlands, forests, and rivers can help conserve water resources. These measures can help address water scarcity, reduce water pollution, and promote sustainable water management in India.
4. Explain the impact of water pollution on the environment and human health.
Answer: Water pollution has severe impacts on the environment and human health. It can disrupt aquatic ecosystems, leading to the extinction of aquatic species and loss of biodiversity. Polluted water also negatively impacts human health, contributing to the spread of waterborne diseases such as typhoid, cholera, and diarrhea. The presence of toxic chemicals in water can also cause long-term illnesses such as cancer, kidney damage, and reproductive disorders. Additionally, water pollution can impact agricultural productivity by reducing soil fertility and crop yields, thereby threatening food security. It also negatively impacts economic development by reducing tourism potential and creating additional healthcare costs. Thus, effective measures to prevent and control water pollution are critical for protecting the environment and sustaining human health.
5. Discuss the various methods of water treatment, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages.
Answer: There are several methods of water treatment, including physical, chemical, and biological methods. Physical methods include processes such as sedimentation and filtration, where solid particles are removed from water using gravity or mechanical forces. Chemical treatment involves dosing water with chemicals such as chlorine, ozone, and potassium permanganate to disinfect it and destroy harmful microorganisms. Biological treatment involves using bacteria or algae to break down organic matter and remove pollutants. Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages. Physical methods are relatively simple and cost-effective, but they may not remove all pollutants, and may require significant space and time to operate. Chemical methods can effectively remove harmful microorganisms, but they may produce disinfection byproducts that are themselves toxic and pose a risk to human health. Biological methods can help remove organic pollutants and are environmentally friendly, but they may require more sophisticated technology and expertise to operate effectively. Additionally, all water treatment methods require ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure that they function optimally. Overall, a combination of these methods is often required to effectively treat water for human consumption and other uses.