Social Science (087) — CBSE Class 10 board question

Overuse of Groundwater and Sustainability of Development:

1. Falling groundwater levels: Farmers use tube-wells and borewells extensively for irrigation. Urban housing societies also pump groundwater to meet daily needs, leading to rapid depletion of groundwater levels.

1. Threat to food security: Irrigated agriculture is the largest consumer of water. Over-exploitation of groundwater to expand dry-season agriculture threatens long-term food production and security.

1. Growing population pressure: Large and growing populations demand more water for domestic use and food production, accelerating over-exploitation of this resource.

1. Industrial and urban pressure: Rapid industrialisation and urbanisation have increased pressure on freshwater resources, further depleting groundwater reserves.

1. Ecological crisis: Overexploitation and mismanagement of water resources will impoverish this resource and cause ecological crisis, having a profound impact on lives and livelihoods.

1. Water pollution: Pollution from industrial waste, pesticides, and fertilisers reduces usable water, compounding scarcity.

Thus, sustainable development demands responsible use of groundwater, as its depletion endangers future generations' needs.

Source: Water Resources, Chapter 3 — Water Scarcity and the Need for Water Conservation and Management

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• The examiner expects you to link groundwater overuse to multiple dimensions of sustainability — food security, ecology, population, industry.
• Key phrase from the textbook: "Over exploitation and mismanagement of water resources will impoverish this resource and cause ecological crisis." — quote or paraphrase this directly.
• 5 marks = ~5 distinct, developed points. Avoid vague statements; each point should name the cause AND its consequence.
• End with a concluding line connecting back to the concept of sustainable development (meeting present needs without compromising future generations).