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Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources

Previous Year Questions 2024

Q1: Which one of the following is the irrigation system in Meghalaya?   (CBSE 2024)
(a) 
To irrigate land only during rainy season.
(b) To use large volumes of water for irrigation.
(c) To remove water from soil.
(d) To use bamboo drip irrigation system.

Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources  View Answer

Ans: (d)
In Meghalaya, farmers use a unique method called bamboo drip irrigation, which involves directing water through bamboo tubes to irrigate their fields. This traditional system is efficient and well-suited to the hilly terrain of the region, allowing for sustainable agriculture even in areas with limited water resources.

Previous Year Questions 2023


Q2: In which of the following States Tungabhadra Dam is located?    (2023)
(a) Tamil Nadu
(b) Kerala
(c) Andhra Pradesh
(d) Karnataka

Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources  View Answer

Ans: (d)
The Tungabhadra Dam is located in the state of Karnataka. Therefore, the correct answer is (d) Karnataka. 


Q3: Read the given source and answer the questions that follow:    (2023)
RAINWATER HARVESTING
Many thought that given the disadvantages and rising resistance against the multi purpose projects, water harvesting system was a viable alternative, both socio-economically and environmentally. In ancient India, along with the sophisticated hydraulic structures, there existed an extraordinary tradition of water harvesting system. People had in-depth knowledge of rainfall regimes and soil types and developed wide ranging techniques to harvest rainwater, groundwater, river water and flood water in keeping with the local ecological conditions and their water needs. In hill and mountainous regions, people built diversion channels like the 'guls' or 'kuls' of the Western Himalayas for agriculture. 'Rooftop rainwater harvesting' was commonly practised to store drinking water, particularly in Rajasthan. In the flood plams of Bengal, people developed inundation channels to irrigate their fields. In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rain fed storage structures that allowed the water to stand and moisten the soil like the 'khadins' in Jaisalmer and 'Johads' in other parts of Rajasthan.
(i) Why is water harvesting system a viable alternative?
(ii) Describe the process of 'rooftop rainwater harvesting.'
(iii) Mention any two methods adopted by ancient India for water conservation.

Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources  View Answer

Ans: (i) The water harvesting system emerges as a viable alternative due to its dual benefits—socio-economic and environmental friendliness.
(ii) 'Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting' involves capturing rainwater from the roof, storing it in reservoirs, and providing a sustainable source of drinking water, especially notable in Rajasthan.
(iii) Ancient India employed diverse water conservation methods, such as building diversion channels like 'guls' or 'kuls' in the Western Himalayas for agriculture and creating rainfed storage structures like 'Khadins' in Jaisalmer and 'Johads' in Rajasthan's other regions.

Previous Year Questions 2022

Q4: Which one of the following factors is mainly responsible for declining water level in India?    (2022)
(a) Irrigation
(b) Industrialisation
(c) Urbanisation
(d) Over-utilisation

Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources  View Answer

Ans: (d)
Over-utilisation is mainly responsible for declining water level in India. A s the population increases, the consumption of water also increases.

Previous Year Questions 2019

Q5: How are traditional rainwater harvesting methods being carried out to conserve water resources in different regions? Explain with examples.    (2019 C)

Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources  View Answer

Ans: (i) In hilly regions, people engineered diversion channels like ‘guls’ or ‘kuls’ in the Western Himalayas to support agriculture.

(ii) 'Rooftop rainwater harvesting' was a common practice in Rajasthan for storing drinking water.

(iii) In Bengal's floodplains, people ingeniously developed inundation channels for field irrigation.

(iv) Arid and semi-arid regions transformed agricultural fields into rainfed storage structures like 'Khadins' in Jaisalmer and 'Johads' in Rajasthan, while regions like Bikaner, Phalodi, and Barmer adopted underground tanks for drinking water.


Q6: "Archaeological and historical records show that from ancient times we have been constructing sophisticated hydraulic structures in India.” Substantiate the statement by giving three evidences.   (2019 C)

Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources  View Answer

Ans: Archaeological and historical records reveal India's rich tradition of sophisticated hydraulic structures:

  • In the 1st century B.C., Sringaverapura near Allahabad showcased advanced water harvesting, channeling Ganga's floodwaters.
  • During Chandragupta Maurya's rule, extensive construction of dams, lakes, and irrigation systems occurred.
  • Evidence of sophisticated irrigation works is found in places like Kalinga, Nagarjunakonda, Bennur, and Kolhapur. In the 11th century, the construction of Bhopal Lake and the 14th-century tank in Hauz Khas, Delhi, further demonstrates India's historical prowess in hydraulic engineering.


Q7: "Water scarcity may be an outcome of large and growing population in India." Analyse the statement.    (Delhi 2019)

Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources  View Answer

Ans:  Water scarcity in India is exacerbated by its large and growing population:

  • Greater demands for water arise not only from domestic use but also from increased food production.
  • Densely populated areas experience groundwater over-exploitation, significantly lowering water tables.
  • Industrial demands and associated pollution further strain freshwater resources, contributing to water scarcity in many Indian cities.


Q8: "Multi-purpose projects and large dams have been the cause of many new social movements." Highlight the concerns related to such movements.    (2019)

Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources  View Answer

Ans: Resistance to these projects (Narmada Bachao Andolan and Tehri Dam Andolan) has primarily been due to the large-scale displacement of local communities. So, if the local people are not benefiting from such projects then who is benefited? With abundance of water many farmers shifting to water intensive and commercial crops. This has great ecological consequences like salinization of the soil. It has transformed the social landscape i.e. increasing the social gap between the richer landowners and the landless poor.


Q9: "Urbanisation has added to water scarcity." Support the statement with arguments.  (Al 2019)

Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources  View Answer

Ans: Urbanization exacerbates water scarcity in India due to:

  • Increased water demand for personal use in densely populated urban centers.
  • Over-exploitation of groundwater by housing societies and colonies.
  • Industries in urban areas contribute to water stress through high consumption and pollution.


Q10: "The dams that were constructed to control floods have triggered floods.” Analyze the statement.    (2019)

Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources  View Answer

Ans: Damming of rivers affects their natural flow causing poor sediment flow and excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir, and poorer habitat for the rivers’ aquatic life. Dams also fragment rivers making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate, especially for spawning. Reservoirs created on the floodplains also submerge the existing vegetation and soil leading to its decomposition.


Q11: "Water harvesting system is an effective measure to reduce the problem of water scarcity.” Justify the statement.    (Al 2019)

Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources  View Answer

Ans: A large amount of this precious water just drains away. The only way to save this water from wastage is by rainwater harvesting. In its simplest form it involves storing the rainwater in tanks, or by making embankments etc. The different methods of rainwater harvesting used in India have been as follows:
(a) Guls or Kuls in the Western Himalayas.
(b) Rooftop rainwater harvesting in Rajasthan associated with tankas. Khadins in Jaisalmer and Johads in other parts of Rajasthan were also popular.
(c) Inundation channels in West Bengal
(d) In Meghalaya which gets copious rain, rainwater harvesting is commonly practiced.
(e) In modern civil construction and housing societies provision for rainwater harvesting.


Q12: How has Shillong solved the problem of acute shortage of water ?   (2019)

Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources  View Answer

Ans: In Meghalaya, a system of tapping stream and spring water by using bamboo pipes is prevalent. This system solved the problem of acute shortage of water, to some extent.


Q13: How has Tamil Nadu solved the problem of acute shortage of water ?   (2019)

Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources  View Answer

Ans: Tamil Nadu has made roof top rainwater harvesting structure compulsory to all the houses across the state. This provision helped the state Tamil Nadu to solve the problem of acute shortage of water.

Previous Year Questions 2018

Q14: Explain any three reasons for which the multi-purpose projects and large dams have come under great scrutiny and opposition in the recent years.     (CBSE 2018)

Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources  View Answer

Ans: (a) Regulating and damming of rivers affect their natural flow causing poor sediment flow and excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoir, resulting in rockier stream beds and poorer habitats for the rivers’ aquatic life.
(b) Dams also fragment rivers making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate, especially for spawning.
(c) The reservoirs that are created on the floodplains also submerge the existing vegetation and soil leading to its decomposition over a period of time.

Previous Year Questions 2017

Q15: Water scarcity in most cases is caused by over-exploitation, excessive use and unequal access to water among different social groups.” Explain the meaning of statement with the help of examples.     (CBSE 2016-17)

Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources  View Answer

Ans: Water scarcity in most cases results from over-exploitation, excessive use, and unequal access among social groups:

  • Over-exploitation is evident through extensive tubewell use for irrigation and industrial purposes.
  • Excessive use is seen in urban areas where water is wasted due to inadequate recycling.
  • Unequal access is apparent with affluent individuals having ample water while the poor face limited supply.


Q16: What is rainwater harvesting ?
Or
How is rainwater harvesting carried out in semi-arid regions of Rajasthan ? 
Explain.      (CBSE 2016-17)

Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources  View Answer

Ans: (a) Rainwater harvesting is a technique of increasing the recharge of groundwater by capturing and storing rainwater by constructing structures, such as dugwells, percolation pits, checkdams.
(b) (i) In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rain fed storage structures that allowed the water to stand and moisten the soil like the ‘Khadins’ in Jaisalmer and ‘Johads’ in other parts of Rajasthan.
(ii) In Bikaner, Phalodi and Banner, almost all the houses had underground tanks for storing drinking water.

Previous Year Questions 2015

Q17: “India has a monsoon type of climate, even then it faces water scarcity in many parts of the country”. Elucidate the given sentence by providing some examples. 
OR

What is water scarcity? Write the main reasons for water scarcity.   (CBSE 2015)

Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources  View Answer

Ans: Water scarcity means shortage of water. It is usually associated with regions having low ground water but it can also be about inferior quality of the water available. There are many other reasons which can cause scarcity of water. 
India has a monsoon type of climate which guarantees appropriate rainfall, yet it has water scarcity because: 
(1) 
The availability of water resources varies over space and time, mainly due to the variations in seasonal and annual precipitation. 
(2) Over-exploitation, excessive use and unequal access to water among different social groups of citizens also causes scarcity. 
(3) Water scarcity may be an outcome of a large and growing population and consequent greater demand for water. 
(4) Most farmers have their personal wells and tubewells in their farms for irrigation to increase their production. Excessive exploitation of groundwater can cause water scarcity. 
(5) Water scarcity can also be caused due to availability of inferior quality of water. This happens because industrial and domestic waste are released into water bodies making them unfit for use.

Previous Year Questions 2012

Q18: How has intensive industrialisation and urbanisation posed a great pressure on existing fresh water resources in India? Explain with two examples for each.   (CBSE 2012)

Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources  View Answer

Ans: Intensive industrialisation and urbanisation has put greater pressure on existing fresh water resources as: 
(1) With the rising number of industries, the demand for water, as a consequence, has grown tremendously. 
(2) Industries are heavy users of fresh water as water is required for cooling the machines and processing of goods. 
(3) The untreated industrial effluents which are discharged into water bodies pollute the water making it hazardous for human consumption causing qualitative scarcity. 
(4) Urban lifestyles have further aggravated the problem. Urban population overdraws the groundwater by using their own groundwater pumping devices. 
(5) Large populations have greater demand of water for consumption and domestic purposes which in turn has increased the stress on water bodies in regions surrounding them.

The document Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources is a part of the Class 10 Course Social Studies (SST) Class 10.
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FAQs on Class 10 Social Science Previous Year Questions - Water Resources

1. What are the different sources of water resources?
Ans. The different sources of water resources include surface water (rivers, lakes, and reservoirs), groundwater (aquifers and wells), rainwater (rainfall collection), and desalination (conversion of seawater to freshwater). Each of these sources plays a crucial role in providing water for various uses, including drinking, agriculture, and industry.
2. How do human activities impact water resources?
Ans. Human activities such as industrialization, urbanization, agriculture, and deforestation significantly impact water resources. They can lead to pollution of water bodies, depletion of groundwater, and alterations in the natural water cycle. Additionally, over-extraction of water for irrigation and domestic use can result in water scarcity.
3. What measures can be taken to conserve water resources?
Ans. Measures to conserve water resources include rainwater harvesting, using water-efficient appliances, fixing leaks, promoting afforestation, and implementing sustainable agricultural practices. Public awareness campaigns and policies to regulate water usage can also contribute to better water conservation.
4. What is the significance of groundwater in water resources management?
Ans. Groundwater is a critical component of water resources management as it provides a reliable source of water during dry periods and is essential for irrigation and drinking water supply. Proper management of groundwater is vital to prevent over-extraction, which can lead to depletion and degradation of this valuable resource.
5. How does climate change affect water resources?
Ans. Climate change affects water resources by altering precipitation patterns, increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts and floods, and impacting the availability of freshwater. These changes can lead to water scarcity, affect agricultural productivity, and pose challenges for water management and distribution systems.
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