Question

Two statements are given below. They are Assertion and Reason (R). Read both the statements carefully and choose the correct option :
Assertion : ‘The agriculturally rich states of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh are facing the crisis of groundwater depletion.’
Reason (R) : ‘More groundwater is utilised for irrigation than water-table recharge.’

• A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is correct reason of (A).
• B. Both (A) and (R) are correct, but (R) is not the correct reason of (A).
• C. (A) is not correct, but (R) is correct.
• D. (A) is correct, but (R) is not correct.

Hint:

When studying groundwater depletion, focus on the impact of irrigation practices in agricultural regions, as they are often the primary cause of over-extraction of groundwater.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Assertion (A): Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh are experiencing a significant groundwater depletion crisis primarily driven by over-extraction for irrigation, essential in these agriculturally vital areas.
Reason (R): Groundwater usage for irrigation demonstrably exceeds water-table recharge rates. This persistent over-extraction, particularly in areas with intensive agriculture, causes a rapid decline in water levels, fueling the groundwater depletion crisis.
Therefore, both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are accurate, and Reason (R) accurately substantiates Assertion (A).