Phase IFoundation
Background
Overview
UPSC frequently examines environmental pollution, water scarcity, and public health. Groundwater quality is a critical component of India's water security, sustainable development goals, and directly impacts the well-being of its population, linking to governance and welfare issues.
Groundwater is a vital source of drinking water and irrigation in India, but it is increasingly threatened by various forms of pollution, including industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and geogenic contaminants like high Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), fluoride, arsenic, and nitrates. Deterioration in groundwater quality poses significant health risks and challenges for sustainable water management.