Q1. [2] medium exam-ready
Why is water scarcity in India not always a result of low rainfall? Give two reasons.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:31 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Water scarcity in India is not always due to low rainfall because:
- Over-exploitation and unequal access: Areas with high rainfall may still face scarcity due to over-exploitation of water resources, excessive use, and unequal access among different social groups.
- Water pollution: Even where water is sufficiently available, it may be polluted by domestic/industrial wastes, chemicals, pesticides and fertilisers, making it hazardous and unusable for human needs.
Source: Water Resources, Chapter 3 — Water Scarcity and the Need for Water Conservation and Management
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Explanation
- The examiner expects two distinct reasons clearly stated — award 1 mark each.
- Avoid simply writing "low rainfall" as the cause; the question asks why it is NOT always due to low rainfall, so your reasons must point to other factors.
- Key terms to include: over-exploitation, unequal access, water pollution — these come directly from the textbook and signal to the examiner you have read the chapter carefully.
- Do not confuse quantity-based scarcity with quality-based scarcity; both are valid and separate reasons here.