Isha Joshi

Both water and energy are integral parts of the human body. By weight about 60% of an adult's human body is water and dehydration is one of the biggest single killers of children in the modern world. Life without water is unthinkable.
The human body needs its daily intake of food to meet its energy requirements, which according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations is about 1,800 kcal per day. Life without energy is equally unthinkable.
The energy that we take in through food again depends, amongst other things, on the water for agriculture and often that water is pumped with electrical or other forms of energy. The interdependence of energy and water is evident.
The world at large seeks both water and energy security. The Worldwatch Institute estimates that about 1.1 billion people (one-fifth of the world population) live in areas of physical water scarcity and another 1.6 billion are facing economic water shortage (when existing water sources cannot be used because of a lack of investment in water-related infrastructure). We will probably have a world population of 9 billion by 2050 and this will put further stress on the water sourcing and supply systems. Here again, the connection between energy and water is evident: globally about 70% of water consumption is for the agricultural sector. No water, no food, no energy.
Actions needed on the waterfront include a reduction in water usage for agriculture (pump efficiencies, drip irrigation instead of flood irrigation, change in crop patterns), recycling of water, extensive rainwater harvesting programmes, stoppage of run-offs and water pollution.
We need to remind ourselves that the fossil-based energy that we rely on so much for almost everything we do is stored solar energy. And while the sun took over 150 million years to store its energy in the form of fossil fuels, we are busy discharging that huge solar battery in a matter of a few hundred years.

Q. We get ________ from food.

Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow:

We noted above that in a democratic election people should have a real choice. This happens only when there are almost no restrictions on anyone to contest an election. This is what our system provides. Anyone who can be a voter can also become a candidate in elections. The only difference is that in order to be a candidate the minimum age is 25 years, while it is only 18 years for being a voter. There are some other restrictions on criminals, etc., but these apply in very extreme cases. Political parties nominate their candidates who get the party symbol and support. Party’s nomination is often called a party ‘ticket’. Every person who wishes to contest an election has to fill a ‘nomination form’ and give some money as ‘security deposit’.

Recently, a new system of declaration has been introduced on direction from the Supreme Court. Every candidate has to make a legal declaration, giving full details of:

Serious criminal cases pending against the candidate;

Details of the assets and liabilities of the candidate and his or her family; and

Educational qualifications of the candidate.

This information has to be made public. This provides an opportunity to the voters to make their decision on the basis of the information provided by the candidates.

Q. Every candidate who wishes to contest an election has to fill a ................ form.