What is India's share in the world's water resources?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

SSC GD Constable (2022) Official Paper (Held On : 17 Jan 2023 Shift 2)

Answer 1

The correct answer is 4%.

Key Points

India's share in the world's water resources is 0.04 or 4%.
- It accounts for 18% of the world's population.
- It accounts for about 2.45 per cent of world’s
  surface area.
- The total water available from
  precipitation in the country in a year is about
  4,000 cubic km.
India is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, with a rapidly growing population and increasing demand for water.
The major rivers in India are the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Indus, which are all shared with neighboring countries like China, Nepal, and Pakistan, leading to water sharing disputes.

Additional Information

There is an ample supply of water worldwide, making it a cyclical resource.
- Water covers roughly 71% of the earth's surface but fresh water makes up only approximately 3 percent of all water.
Climate change is exacerbating water scarcity in India, with irregular monsoons and increasing temperatures leading to droughts and reduced availability of water.
India is working towards increasing water conservation efforts and improving water management to ensure sustainable use of its limited water resources.
There are four major sources of surface water: rivers, lakes, ponds, and tanks.
The groundwater utilisation is very high in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu.