UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statements A, B, D and E are correct as they deal with losses, augmentation, demand management and justice dimensions of urban water. Leakage and non-revenue water weaken systems, urban rainwater harvesting can supplement supplies, managing demand reduces stress and equitable access is central to justice. C is wrong because wetlands and lakes help store water and mitigate floods, and F is wrong since integrated management explicitly considers linkages between different parts of the urban water cycle. Hence, A, B, D and E only is the correct combination.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect as it omits E and thereby fails to reflect the equity aspect of urban water management. Without E, the answer focuses only on technical measures and leaves out social justice concerns.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it includes C, which dismisses the role of wetlands and lakes in mitigation and recharge. Accepting C contradicts hydrological understanding and urban planning practice.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it groups B, D, E and F and incorrectly accepts F, which claims integrated management ignores system interactions. By definition, integrated approaches do the opposite, so this option is conceptually flawed.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it brings together all the true statements and excludes the two false ones about wetlands and integration. It captures technical, environmental and equity aspects of urban water issues.

Rainwater harvesting involves capturing runoff from roofs,terraces or open surfaces and storing it in tanks or directing it into the ground. It reduces pressure on surface and groundwater sources and helps bridge seasonal gaps in supply. Because the stem describes collection and storage of rainwater for later use,rainwater harvesting is the correct term. It is widely promoted in both rural and urban areas.

Option A:
Desalination is the process of removing salt from seawater to produce fresh water. It requires specialised plants and energy and does not involve direct collection of rainwater. Therefore it does not match the method described in the question.

Option B:
Rainwater harvesting can be implemented through simple household tanks or larger community systems. It has the added benefit of reducing urban flooding when integrated with stormwater management. These features align closely with the stem,which highlights collecting rainwater from roofs or catchments.

Option C:
Irrigation canal lining is a technique to prevent seepage losses from canals by using concrete or other materials. Although it conserves water,it does not involve storing rainfall in the manner mentioned in the question.

Option D:
Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique in which substances are dispersed into clouds to encourage precipitation. It does not deal with capturing and storing rain once it has fallen,so it is not suitable for the blank.

Rooftop rainwater harvesting captures precipitation that would otherwise quickly run off impervious surfaces. When this water is stored or directed into recharge structures, local aquifers can be replenished and dependence on external sources can be reduced. At the same time, diverting water away from streets and drains lessens peak runoff and helps mitigate urban flooding during heavy rains. For these reasons, the statement that it helps recharge groundwater and reduce flooding correctly summarises its main environmental benefits.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because harvesting local rainwater tends to reduce, not increase, reliance on distant reservoirs and long pipelines. By using water where it falls, cities can lower the strain on regional river systems and energy-intensive water transfers.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as effective recharge practices are designed to stabilise or raise groundwater levels, not to lower them. Lowering usually results from over-extraction or insufficient replenishment, the opposite of what rainwater harvesting seeks to achieve.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because properly designed rooftop systems intercept rainfall before it becomes surface runoff, then channel it into storage tanks or recharge pits. This reduces the volume of water rushing across roads and into storm drains, thereby helping to manage runoff.

Option D:
Option D is correct since it combines the conservation and flood-control roles of rainwater harvesting. Implementing such systems at scale is an important adaptation strategy in water-stressed and flood-prone urban regions.

Statements A, B, C, E and F are correct and jointly describe objectives, measures and co-benefits of watershed management. They show how soil and water are conserved, how rainwater harvesting aids recharge, how community participation improves outcomes and how biodiversity can recover in treated areas. Statement D is wrong because watershed development is widely used for drought mitigation and livelihood support. Therefore, the correct answer is the combination A, B, C, E and F only.

Option A:
Option A is correct since it includes all true statements and excludes D, which denies key benefits of watershed development. It reflects the integrated ecological and livelihood focus of watershed programmes.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it omits F and thereby ignores the potential for biodiversity regeneration in treated watersheds. It also still excludes D but gives an incomplete picture of environmental benefits.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect as it excludes A and thus fails to mention the basic aim of watershed management. Without A, the central resource-conservation objective is lost.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since it omits B, leaving out typical measures such as contour bunding and check dams, which are crucial to understanding how watershed activities are implemented.