UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statements A, C and D are correct and capture the key features of Integrated Water Resources Management. IWRM involves coordinated management across sectors, uses stakeholder participation to improve decisions and often relies on river-basin scale planning. Statement B is incorrect because ecological considerations are a central part of modern IWRM thinking, not something to be ignored. Thus, the combination containing A, C and D only is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it recognises the multi-dimensional and participatory nature of IWRM and excludes the statement that misrepresents its scope. It accurately reflects that IWRM balances human, economic and ecological needs at appropriate scales such as river basins.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect as it omits D, which is a valid statement regarding basin-level planning. Even though A and C are true, leaving out D gives an incomplete picture of how IWRM is operationalised in practice.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes all four statements, thereby accepting B as correct. Statement B falsely claims that IWRM ignores ecology, which directly contradicts the integrative vision of the approach.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since it selects B, C and D as correct. While C and D are correct, B is not, and including it undermines the accuracy of the combination.

Statement C is the only wrong statement because managing demand and improving irrigation efficiency are central to strategies for addressing water scarcity. Statements A, B and D are correct: they define physical scarcity, explain virtual water and note that trade in water-intensive goods can reduce local pressure on scarce water. Efficient irrigation and demand management are widely promoted in water policy. Hence, the combination that identifies C alone as wrong is correct.

Option A:
Option A is correct as it singles out C as the sole incorrect statement and implicitly treats A, B and D as accurate. It recognises the importance of demand-side and efficiency measures in managing scarce water resources, in line with the syllabus.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it treats both B and C as wrong. Statement B correctly defines virtual water and is widely used in discussions of trade and water security. Grouping B with C therefore misrepresents key concepts.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect as it marks A and C as wrong. A is a standard definition of physical water scarcity, so including it among wrong statements contradicts accepted hydrological terminology.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it labels C and D as wrong together. While C is wrong, D is correct since importing water-intensive crops is one recognised strategy, though not without trade-offs.

Sustainable agriculture aims to meet present food needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs from the same resource base. It emphasises soil conservation,efficient water use and reduced chemical dependence. The stem highlights maintaining fertility,conserving water and protecting the environment for long term productivity,which clearly fits sustainable agriculture. Thus sustainable is the correct option.

Option A:
Subsistence agriculture focuses on producing enough food mainly for the farmer’s family with little surplus. It may or may not follow environmentally sound practices and is not defined by long term resource stewardship,so it does not fully match the description.

Option B:
Commercial agriculture is oriented toward market production and profit, often using high levels of inputs. Without specific safeguards,it can cause soil and water degradation. Therefore it does not inherently reflect the sustainability criteria mentioned in the question.

Option C:
Sustainable agriculture integrates ecological principles such as crop rotation,integrated pest management and agroforestry. These practices maintain productivity while minimising negative environmental impacts. This directly corresponds to the goals listed in the stem.

Option D:
Shifting agriculture involves clearing forest patches, cultivating them briefly and then moving on. It can be sustainable at low population densities but is not primarily defined by deliberate conservation measures,so it is not the best term here.

Physical water scarcity occurs where natural hydrological conditions cannot meet the demands placed on them, even with efficient use. It reflects absolute limits in supply relative to population and economic activities. Economic water scarcity arises where water resources exist but infrastructure, finance and governance are inadequate for people to obtain safe and reliable supplies. This distinction between natural limits and access constraints is correctly expressed in Option B.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it reverses the definitions. Poor management can aggravate both types of scarcity, but abundant resources with poor management fit better under economic and governance issues than pure physical scarcity.

Option B:
Option B is correct since it clearly separates situations of low natural availability from those where institutions and investments are lacking. Understanding this difference is important for designing appropriate water policies.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect as it confuses water quality problems with scarcity types. Pollution can contribute to scarcity but does not define the physical versus economic distinction.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because water scarcity can affect both urban and rural areas, and the physical versus economic classification is not based solely on settlement type.