Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM)
Environment & Ecology
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
IWRM is fundamental to India's sustainable development goals, climate change adaptation strategies, public health, agricultural productivity, and inter-state relations. It tests understanding of multi-sectoral governance, policy implementation, and the challenges of resource management in a populous nation.
Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) is a process that promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources in order to maximize economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems. It emphasizes a holistic approach to water challenges, considering all aspects from source to tap and beyond, crucial for sustainable development and climate resilience.
Facts & tables
- India's Water Challenge
- Home to 18% of the world's population but only 4% of global freshwater resources, facing increasing pressure from urbanization and climate change.
- Shift to Integrated Approach
- Transition from fragmented interventions to a holistic strategy encompassing drinking water, sanitation, river conservation, irrigation efficiency, groundwater recharge, wastewater reuse, and climate resilience.
- Flagship Initiatives
- Jal Jeevan Mission (rural tap water), Swachh Bharat Mission (rural sanitation), Namami Gange Programme (river rejuvenation), Ken-Betwa River Linking Project, and 'Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari' (groundwater recharge) are key components.
- Impacts
- Improved public health, enhanced dignity and safety for women, increased economic activity, and reversal of environmental stress in groundwater levels.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Environment & Ecology |
| Conceptual area | Governance |
| Conceptual area | Social Justice & Development |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Jal Shakti | Implements |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Statement-based questions
Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding
- IWRM: Coordinated management of water, land, and related resources for sustainable development.
- India's challenge: 18% global population, 4% freshwater; exacerbated by climate change and urbanization.
- Key initiatives: JJM (rural tap water), SBM (sanitation), Namami Gange (river cleaning), Ken-Betwa (river linking), 'Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari' (groundwater recharge).
- Impacts: Improved public health, women's empowerment, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.
- Approach: Holistic, connecting drinking water, sanitation, river conservation, irrigation, groundwater, wastewater reuse, and climate resilience.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2023 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2020 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2016 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2014 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
Timeline
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Environment & Ecology
Conceptual area
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Governance
Conceptual area
-
Social Justice & Development
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2014
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2016
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2020
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2023
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2026
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Water security is central for a Viksit Bharat
India is adopting an integrated approach to water management, moving from fragmented interventions to a holistic strategy encompassing drinking water, sanitation, river rejuvenation, groundwater recharge, and interlinking projects. This is crucial for national resilience, public health, and economic growth, especially given climate change challenges and India's unique water resource constraints.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2014–2026 · 8 questions
In the news
Water security is central for a Viksit Bharat
India is adopting an integrated approach to water management, moving from fragmented interventions to a holistic strategy encompassing drinking water, sanitation, river rejuvenation, groundwater recharge, and interlinking projects. This is crucial for national resilience, public health, and economic growth, especially given climate change challenges and India's unique water resource constraints.
Try these PYQs
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I : According to the United Nation's 'World Water Development Report, 2022', India extracts more than a quarter of the world's groundwater withdrawal each year.
Statement-II :India needs to extract more than a quarter of the world's groundwater each year to satisfy the drinking water and sanitation needs of almost 18% of world's population living in its territory.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Statement 1 is correct. According to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2022, with an estimated 251 km3 annual withdrawal from an estimated 20 million wells and tube wells, India is the world's greatest groundwater user. This accounts for more than a quarter of the total groundwater extracted internationally. * Statement 2 is incorrect. India uses about 89% of this groundwater for irrigation. Major share of total groundwater extracted by India is utilised for irrigation purposes and not for drinking and sanitation purposes.
Consider the following statements:
Statement I:
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change is frequently discussed in global discussions on sustainable development and climate change.
Statement II:
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change sets out the principles of carbon markets.
Statement III:
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change intends to promote inter-country non-market strategies to reach their climate targets.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement is crucial as it outlines international cooperation through both carbon markets and non-market approaches to help countries meet climate goals. ✅ Statement I is correct:
* Article 6 is widely discussed because it enables cooperation through market and non-market means to fight climate change. ✅ Statement II is correct:
* It defines rules for carbon markets, including carbon trading and credit mechanisms. ✅ Statement III is correct:
* It also promotes non-market tools like technology transfer and capacity building to reach climate targets. So, the correct answer is: A
Which of the following statements in relation to NIRANTAR (National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build Resilience), a platform of institutions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is/are correct ?
1. Ecosystem Survey and Analysis is a vertical under this platform, the lead institute of which is Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata.
2. Research and Management of Ecosystem Service is a vertical under this platform, the lead institute of which is Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi.
3. Capacity Development Support is a vertical under this platform, the lead institute of which is Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Statement 1 is Correct: The National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build Resilience (NIRANTAR) is a collaborative platform under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Ecosystem Survey & Analysis is one of its four thematic verticals, and its lead institute is the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Kolkata. Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Research and Management of Ecosystem Service vertical is led by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun, not the Central Zoo Authority (CZA). The CZA is merely a participating institute under this vertical. Statement 3 is Correct: The Capacity Development Support vertical focuses on research, education, and capacity building. The lead institute for this vertical is the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: Carbon markets are likely to be one of the most widespread tools in the fight against climate change.
Statement-II: Carbon markets transfer resources from the private sector to the State.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Carbon markets, which include mechanisms like cap-and-trade systems and carbon offsets, are increasingly being used as a tool to incentivize emissions reductions and help in the fight against climate change. So, statement 1 is true. * Carbon markets typically work by transferring resources from emitters (usually in the private sector) to entities that can reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions, which can be either private entities or the government. So, statement 2 can also be true.
Which of the following are the key features of ‘National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)’?
1. The river basin is the unit of planning and management.
2. It spearheads the river conservation efforts at the national level.
3. One of the Chief Ministers of the State through which the Ganga flows becomes the Chairman of NGRBA on a rotation basis.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Statement 1 is correct. National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) is the financing, planning, implementing, monitoring, and coordinating authority for the Ganges River, functioning under the Jal Shakti Ministry. Statement 2 is correct. The mission of the organisation is to safeguard the drainage basin which feeds water into the Ganges by protecting it from pollution or overuse. In July 2014, the NGRBA has been transferred from the Ministry of Environment and Forests to the Ministry of Jal Shakti. Statement 3 is incorrect. The Prime Minister is the chair of the Authority.
Other members include the cabinet ministers of ministries that include the Ganges among their direct concerns and the chief ministers of states through which the Ganges River flows.
Show 3 more PYQs
Consider the following statements:
1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
2. CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act.
3. India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: As per the report National Compilation on Dynamic Groundwater Resources of India, 2017 of CGWA, out of the total 6881 assessment units (Blocks/Mandals/ Talukas) in the country, 1186 units in various States (17%) have been categorized as Over-Exploited, 313 units (5%) as Critical, and 972 units (14%) as Semi-Critical. Statement 2 is correct: The CGWA was established in 1997 under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate and manage groundwater resources. Statement 3 is correct: India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world. This is due to the country's heavy reliance on agriculture, which is predominantly rain-fed. Therefore, the correct answer is B. 2 and 3 only.
What are the benefits of implementing the ‘Integrated Watershed Development Programme’?
1. Prevention of soil runoff
2. Linking the country’s perennial rivers with seasonal rivers
3. Rainwater harvesting and recharge of the groundwater table
4. Regeneration of natural vegetation
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Statement 1 is correct: Prevention of soil runoff IWDP promotes practices that reduce soil erosion, protecting valuable topsoil and improving land fertility. Statement 2 is incorrect: Linking perennial and seasonal rivers While water resource management is a part of IWDP, it doesn't focus on physically linking separate river systems. The National River Linking Project is a separate project to interlink rivers. Statement 3 is correct: Rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge IWDP encourages rainwater conservation techniques, allowing more water to infiltrate the ground and replenish aquifers. Statement 4 is correct: Regeneration of natural vegetation IWDP often involves planting trees and promoting sustainable land management practices, leading to increased vegetation cover.
With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the following statements :
1. None of them uses seawater.
2. None of them is set up in water-stressed district.
3. None of them is privately owned.
How many of the above statements are correct?
* Statement 1 is incorrect: The Mundra Thermal Power Plant employs a closed-cycle induced draft circulating cooling water system that utilises seawater. Seawater is drawn from the Gulf of Kutch through robust glass reinforced pipes of significant diameter. In addition, purified seawater from a reverse osmosis plant is utilised by various supplementary systems. * Statement 2 is incorrect: According to recent research by WRI (World Resources Institute), 40 percent of India's thermal power plants are situated in regions experiencing significant water stress. This poses a challenge as these plants rely on water for cooling purposes. The scarcity of water is already causing disruptions in electricity generation in these areas, with 14 out of India's 20 largest thermal utilities having experienced at least one shutdown between 2013 and 2016 due to water shortages. * Statement 3 is incorrect: India has a total of 269 Thermal Power Plants, with 138 of them being owned by the public sector and the remaining 131 owned by the private sector.