NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Geography Chapter 6: Water Resources

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Class 12 Geography Chapter 6

Updated NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Geography Chapter 6: Water Resources + Important Questions

Master Chapter 6 Water Resources with our Updated NCERT Solutions. Learn about water scarcity, conservation methods like rainwater harvesting, and watershed management. These simplified answers and board-focused important questions will help you score high in your CBSE Class 12 exams and CUET preparations.

Chapter NameWater Resources
SubjectGeography (Book 2: India – People and Economy)
Class12
BoardCBSE
Important TopicsSurface & Groundwater, Watershed Management, Rainwater Harvesting, Water Quality
Difficulty LevelModerate
Exam WeightageHigh (Frequent 3-mark & 5-mark questions, Map-based questions)

Learning Objectives

After completing this chapter, students will be able to:

Key Concepts and Definitions

Here are the most important terms you need to memorize for CBSE Class 12 Geography Chapter 6:

Full NCERT Solutions

Here are the detailed and step-by-step NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Geography Chapter 6. We have covered all the textbook exercises so you don't miss anything.

Question 1: Choose the right answers of the following from the given options.

(i) Which one of the following types of resource is water?

(a) Abiotic resource
(b) Non-renewable resource
(c) Biotic resource
(d) Cyclic resource

Correct Answer: (d) Cyclic resource.
Explanation: Water is constantly replenished through the hydrological cycle.

(ii) Which one of the following rivers has the highest replenishable groundwater resource in the country?

(a) The Indus
(b) The Brahmaputra
(c) The Ganga
(d) The Godavari

Correct Answer: (c) The Ganga.
Explanation: The Ganga basin covers a massive, fertile alluvial plain which allows excellent seepage and groundwater storage.

(iii) Which of the following figures in cubic kilometres correctly shows the total annual precipitation in India?

(a) 2,000
(b) 3,000
(c) 4,000
(d) 5,000

Correct Answer: (c) 4,000.
Explanation: India receives roughly 4,000 cubic km of water annually from precipitation.

(iv) Which one of the following south Indian states has the highest groundwater utilisation (in per cent) of its total groundwater potential?

(a) Tamil Nadu
(b) Karnataka
(c) Andhra Pradesh
(d) Kerala

Correct Answer: (a) Tamil Nadu.
Explanation: Tamil Nadu heavily utilizes its groundwater due to a lack of perennial surface water rivers compared to northern states.

(v) The highest proportion of the total water used in the country is in which one of the following sectors?

(a) Irrigation
(b) Industries
(c) Domestic use
(d) None of the above

Correct Answer: (a) Irrigation.
Explanation: Agriculture dominates the Indian economy, taking up about 89% of surface water and 92% of groundwater utilization.

Question 2: Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i) It is said that the water resources in India have been depleting very fast. Discuss the factors responsible for depletion of water resources.

Answer: The rapid depletion of water resources is caused by the growing population, over-exploitation of groundwater for intensive agriculture (especially in Punjab and Haryana), industrialization, urbanization, and the contamination of existing water bodies.

(ii) What factors are responsible for the highest groundwater development in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu?

Answer: In Punjab and Haryana, the main factor is the heavy demand for irrigation due to intensive agriculture and the Green Revolution. In Tamil Nadu, it is due to a lack of perennial rivers and insufficient rainfall, forcing reliance on groundwater for agriculture and domestic needs.

(iii) Why is the share of agricultural sector in total water used in the country expected to decline?

Answer: While agriculture currently uses the most water, its relative share is expected to decline in the future. This is because rapid industrialization and urbanization are drastically increasing the demand for water in the industrial and domestic sectors.

(iv) What can be possible impacts of consumption of contaminated/unclean water on the people?

Answer: Consuming unclean water leads to severe water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, typhoid, and hepatitis. It increases mortality rates, especially among children, and negatively impacts public health and economic productivity.

Question 3: Answer the following questions in not more than 150 words.

(i) Discuss the availability of water resources in the country and factors that determine its spatial distribution.

Step 1: Introduction to Availability. India has about 4% of the world's water resources but houses nearly 18% of the global population. The total water available from precipitation is around 4,000 cubic km, and the utilizable water is about 1,122 cubic km.
Step 2: Factors Determining Spatial Distribution. The spatial distribution of water in India is highly uneven due to the following factors:
  • Climate and Rainfall: Regions like the Northeast and the Western Ghats receive heavy rainfall (over 200 cm), leading to abundant surface water. In contrast, Rajasthan and parts of the Deccan Plateau receive very low rainfall.
  • Topography: The vast, flat northern plains facilitate the accumulation of surface water and high groundwater recharge. Rough, rocky, and mountainous terrains restrict groundwater penetration.
  • River Systems: The Himalayan rivers (Ganga, Brahmaputra) are perennial as they are fed by both rain and melting glaciers. Peninsular rivers are seasonal, depending entirely on the monsoon.
Step 3: Consequence of Uneven Distribution. This uneven distribution creates severe regional imbalances, leading to floods in some areas and droughts in others.

(ii) What is meant by watershed management? Do you think it can play an important role in sustainable development?

Step 1: Defining Watershed Management. Watershed management refers to the efficient conservation, regeneration, and judicious use of all natural resources (land, water, plants) within a watershed (a drainage basin). It involves halting surface runoff and increasing groundwater recharge using methods like percolation tanks, check dams, and recharge wells.
Step 2: Role in Sustainable Development. Yes, it plays a vital role in sustainable development because:
  • Ecological Balance: It helps restore the ecological balance by increasing vegetation cover and soil moisture.
  • Community Participation: Programs like Haryali (Central Govt), Neeru-Meeru (Andhra Pradesh), and Arvary Pani Sansad (Rajasthan) show that involving local communities ensures long-term maintenance of water structures.
  • Economic Stability: It ensures a year-round supply of drinking and irrigation water, supporting sustainable agriculture and protecting farmers from drought, thereby ensuring food and economic security.

Extra Important Questions (Board Style)

Prepare for the Board Exam Questions 2026 with these 15 selected practice questions.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. The 'Neeru-Meeru' (Water and You) program is associated with which state?

(a) Rajasthan
(b) Andhra Pradesh
(c) Tamil Nadu
(d) Gujarat

Correct Answer: (b) Andhra Pradesh.

2. Which of the following is the most toxic pollutant of Indian rivers?

(a) Agricultural runoff
(b) Domestic waste
(c) Heavy metals from industries
(d) Thermal pollution

Correct Answer: (c) Heavy metals from industries.

3. Which state has made rooftop rainwater harvesting structures compulsory for all houses?

(a) Karnataka
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Tamil Nadu
(d) Kerala

Correct Answer: (c) Tamil Nadu.

Short Answer Type Questions

4. Name two states that have utilized their groundwater potential to a large extent, and state the reason why.

Answer: Punjab and Haryana. They utilize groundwater heavily for extensive irrigation to support intensive agriculture (wheat and rice cultivation).
[Image Guide: Add a map of India highlighting Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu in red to show high groundwater utilization zones.]

5. Mention any two objectives of the 'Haryali' program.

Answer: Two objectives of the 'Haryali' program are:
  1. To enable the rural population to conserve water for drinking, irrigation, fisheries, and afforestation.
  2. To execute watershed development projects with the active participation of the Gram Panchayats.

6. What are the economic benefits of rainwater harvesting?

Answer: It reduces the dependency on municipal water supply, lowers water and electricity bills (as less pumping is required), saves energy, and prevents soil erosion by reducing surface runoff.

7. Why is the quality of water deteriorating in India? Give two reasons.

Answer: Two key reasons for deteriorating water quality are:
  1. Untreated industrial effluents containing toxic chemicals are dumped directly into rivers.
  2. Runoff from agricultural fields containing high amounts of chemical fertilizers and pesticides pollutes groundwater.

8. State the importance of lagoons and backwaters in India.

Answer: Though the water is generally brackish, it is highly useful for fishing, irrigating certain varieties of paddy crops, and cultivating coconut. They are prominent in states like Kerala and Odisha.

Long Answer Type Questions

9. "The demand for water for irrigation is very high in India." Justify this statement with valid reasons.

Answer: The demand for water for irrigation is exceptionally high in India due to several geographical and agricultural factors:
  • Uneven Monsoon: Rainfall in India is highly uneven, erratic, and concentrated in just a few months. Irrigation is essential for the dry seasons to ensure crop survival.
  • Crop Requirement: Many staple and cash crops grown in India, like rice, sugarcane, and jute, are highly water-intensive and require a continuous water supply, which cannot be met by rainfall alone.
  • Multiple Cropping: To feed a growing population, farmers grow multiple crops a year on the same land. This intensive agriculture demands an assured, year-round irrigation supply.
  • Green Revolution Success: The success of HYV (High Yielding Variety) seeds heavily depends on a timely and adequate water supply, leading to high water demand, especially in states like Punjab and Haryana.
[Image Guide: Insert a pie chart showing sectoral water use: Irrigation 89%, Domestic 9%, Industrial 2% for visual reinforcement.]

10. What is Rainwater Harvesting? Explain any three benefits of this practice.

Step 1: Definition. Rainwater harvesting is the technique of capturing and storing rainwater for future use, rather than letting it run off. It involves collecting water from rooftops and open grounds.
Step 2: Benefits. Three key benefits of rainwater harvesting are:
  1. It increases groundwater availability by recharging aquifers, which helps raise the water table.
  2. It improves the quality of groundwater through the dilution of contaminants like fluoride and nitrates that may have leached into the aquifer.
  3. It prevents urban flooding and soil erosion by reducing surface runoff during heavy rains, which also eases the load on drainage systems.

11. Discuss the legislative measures taken by the Government of India for the prevention of water pollution.

Answer: The government has enacted several laws to curb water pollution, though their implementation faces challenges. The key legislative measures are:
  1. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974: This was the first major legislation designed to prevent pollution and maintain or restore the wholesomeness of water by establishing central and state pollution control boards (CPCB and SPCB).
  2. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: This is an umbrella act that provides a broad framework for protecting the environment, including water resources. It empowers the Central Government to take all necessary measures to protect and improve environmental quality.
  3. Water Cess Act, 1977: This act was introduced to collect a cess (tax) on water consumed by industries and local authorities. The objective was to generate funds for the pollution control boards and to encourage water conservation.
Despite these laws, pollution continues due to weak enforcement and lack of public awareness.

Assertion-Reason Questions

12. Assertion (A): The share of the industrial sector in total water use is expected to increase in the future.
Reason (R): India is shifting from an agrarian economy to an industrialized economy.

Correct Answer: Both A and R are True, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: As more factories and power plants are established to support India's economic shift, the industrial demand for water will rise significantly, increasing its overall share.

13. Assertion (A): Groundwater depletion is severe in regions like Rajasthan and Maharashtra.
Reason (R): These states receive the highest rainfall in the country.

Correct Answer: Assertion (A) is True, but Reason (R) is False.
Explanation: Rajasthan and Maharashtra receive low to moderate rainfall, which is why they heavily rely on and over-exploit groundwater, leading to its depletion. States with the highest rainfall are in the Northeast.

Case-Based Questions

Read the following paragraph and answer the questions:

In the Alwar district of Rajasthan, the community launched a movement known as 'Arvary Pani Sansad'. They constructed various water harvesting structures like johads, check dams, and ponds. This community-led initiative not only revived the Arvary river but also recharged the dry wells in the surrounding villages.

14. Which specific state is mentioned in the case study for the 'Arvary Pani Sansad' initiative?

Answer: Rajasthan.

15. What was the main outcome of constructing johads and check dams?

Answer: It led to the revival of the Arvary river and the recharging of dry groundwater wells in the region.

Common Mistakes Students Make

Exam Preparation Tips

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Chapter 6 Water Resources important for Class 12 Boards?
Yes, it is highly important. Topics like watershed management and rainwater harvesting are frequently asked as 3-mark or 5-mark long answer questions.
2. Where can I find Updated NCERT Solutions for Geography Class 12?
You can find fully accurate, step-by-step updated solutions for all Geography chapters on our website, designed strictly according to the CBSE 2026-27 marking scheme.
3. What is the highest water-consuming sector in India?
The agricultural sector is the highest consumer, utilizing about 89% of surface water and 92% of groundwater, primarily for irrigation.
4. What are the main objectives of the Haryali program?
Haryali is a Central Government initiative aimed at empowering rural communities to conserve water for irrigation, drinking, and fisheries through watershed development.
5. How does rainwater harvesting help the environment?
It reduces surface runoff, prevents soil erosion, recharges depleting groundwater aquifers, and dilutes harmful groundwater contaminants.

Conclusion

Understanding Water Resources is critical not just for passing your Geography exams, but for becoming an informed citizen capable of tackling future environmental challenges. Ensure you thoroughly memorize the key definitions and government initiatives covered in this chapter.

To secure top marks:

  • Revise regularly: Make summary notes of the key data points and percentages.
  • Practice PYQs: Solve Previous Year Questions to understand the board's questioning patterns.
  • Download notes: Keep a PDF of these NCERT solutions for quick last-minute reading. Prepare for your CBSE Class 12 Geography Board Exam 2026 confidently. Best of luck!

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