MCQs with answers on “The Role of Science in Managing India’s Water Crisis” 

1. What is the primary cause of water scarcity in India?

a) Excessive rainfall
b) Uneven distribution of water resources
c) Industrialization
d) Overfishing

Answer: b) Uneven distribution of water resources

2. Which technology is commonly used for water conservation in agriculture?

a) Rainwater harvesting
b) Solar power
c) Hydroponics
d) Drip irrigation

Answer: d) Drip irrigation

3. Which of the following is an important aspect of water management in India?

a) Reducing the population
b) Technology-driven solutions for water conservation
c) Setting up more dams
d) Importing water

Answer: b) Technology-driven solutions for water conservation

4. What role does the Internet of Things (IoT) play in managing water resources?

a) Increases water wastage
b) Monitors and controls water usage
c) Reduces the need for water treatment plants
d) Destroys water infrastructure

Answer: b) Monitors and controls water usage

5. Which technique is used for purifying water using solar energy?

a) Reverse Osmosis
b) Solar desalination
c) Electrodialysis
d) UV filtration

Answer: b) Solar desalination

6. Which government initiative aims to improve water availability and quality in rural India?

a) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
b) Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
c) National Water Mission
d) National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)

Answer: c) National Water Mission

7. What is the primary goal of rainwater harvesting in urban areas?

a) To flood underground aquifers
b) To prevent soil erosion
c) To recharge groundwater and reduce dependency on surface water
d) To create artificial lakes

Answer: c) To recharge groundwater and reduce dependency on surface water

8. Which river project in India aims to interlink rivers for water distribution?

a) Narmada Project
b) Namami Gange Project
c) National River Linking Project
d) Yamuna Action Plan

Answer: c) National River Linking Project

9. How does desalination contribute to solving India’s water crisis?

a) By purifying rainwater
b) By providing freshwater from seawater
c) By reducing agricultural water consumption
d) By treating industrial wastewater

Answer: b) By providing freshwater from seawater

10. What is the main objective of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)?

a) Improving soil fertility
b) Increasing agricultural productivity
c) Enhancing irrigation facilities for farmers
d) Exporting agricultural products

Answer: c) Enhancing irrigation facilities for farmers

11. Which of the following is a major challenge to India’s water management system?

a) Proper implementation of water policies
b) Climate change and its impact on water cycles
c) Overuse of water resources
d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

12. What is the role of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) in water management?

a) Irrigation design
b) Mapping water resources and assessing water scarcity
c) Purifying water
d) Enhancing rainfall prediction

Answer: b) Mapping water resources and assessing water scarcity

13. Which of the following methods is used for wastewater treatment in rural India?

a) Chemical filtration
b) Bioremediation
c) Reverse osmosis
d) Electrocoagulation

Answer: b) Bioremediation

14. The implementation of which type of irrigation system can save up to 60% of water in agriculture?

a) Flood irrigation
b) Drip irrigation
c) Sprinkler irrigation
d) Surface irrigation

Answer: b) Drip irrigation

15. What is the significance of water use efficiency in agriculture?

a) It reduces the cost of farming
b) It helps in better water conservation
c) It leads to higher crop yields
d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

16. Which of the following practices helps in the recharging of groundwater?

a) Over-extraction of water
b) Surface water conservation
c) Rainwater harvesting
d) None of the above

Answer: c) Rainwater harvesting

17. Which technology is used to detect leaks in water distribution networks?

a) Remote sensing
b) Satellite imaging
c) Acoustic leak detection
d) Groundwater mapping

Answer: c) Acoustic leak detection

18. How can artificial intelligence (AI) help in water management?

a) By making water reservoirs deeper
b) By predicting water consumption patterns
c) By increasing water extraction rates
d) By reducing rainfall

Answer: b) By predicting water consumption patterns

19. The implementation of water-efficient technologies like drip irrigation and sprinklers directly impacts which of the following?

a) Water waste reduction
b) Reduced soil erosion
c) Increased agricultural productivity
d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

20. What is a key benefit of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in urban areas?

a) They recycle wastewater for reuse
b) They increase the salinity of water sources
c) They purify ocean water
d) They increase waterborne diseases

Answer: a) They recycle wastewater for reuse

21. What is the role of remote sensing in water resource management?

a) It increases water extraction
b) It helps in monitoring water quality and availability
c) It creates water bodies
d) It helps in desalinating seawater

Answer: b) It helps in monitoring water quality and availability

22. Which country’s experience in water management and conservation is often referred to as a model for India?

a) Australia
b) Israel
c) Canada
d) United States

Answer: b) Israel

23. What does the term “water footprint” refer to?

a) The amount of water used in industrial processes
b) The total volume of water used in the production of goods and services
c) The water usage for agricultural purposes only
d) None of the above

Answer: b) The total volume of water used in the production of goods and services

24. What does the “Catch the Rain” campaign focus on?

a) Improving river water flow
b) Urban flood management
c) Rainwater harvesting
d) Water pollution control

Answer: c) Rainwater harvesting

25. Which of the following is a method of treating water through the use of physical filtration?

a) Chlorination
b) UV purification
c) Reverse osmosis
d) Sand filtration

Answer: d) Sand filtration

26. Which of the following contributes to the over-extraction of groundwater in India?

a) Increased population
b) Agricultural demand
c) Industrial usage
d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

27. What does the term “water stress” imply?

a) Excessive availability of water
b) Reduced demand for water
c) Insufficient water to meet the demand of a region
d) Pollution of water bodies

Answer: c) Insufficient water to meet the demand of a region

28. Which of the following plays a vital role in enhancing water supply and wastewater management in Indian cities?

a) Municipal Corporation Act
b) Swachh Bharat Mission
c) Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
d) National Green Tribunal

Answer: c) Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)

29. The adoption of which sustainable water management technology can significantly reduce water wastage in industrial processes?

a) Greywater recycling
b) Use of chemical agents
c) Increased water extraction
d) Expanding water reservoirs

Answer: a) Greywater recycling

30. What is the importance of watershed management in water conservation?

a) It reduces urban water use
b) It protects water quality and reduces soil erosion
c) It increases water extraction
d) It improves agricultural productivity only

Answer: b) It protects water quality and reduces soil erosion