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How has the overuse… (Class 10 Social Science 2025, Q33b)

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Social ScienceCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2025, set 32/2/1 · 5 marks · Long answer

CBSE Class 10 Social Science 2025: question 33(b)

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2025, paper 32/2/1, section D, question 33(b), for 5 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q33(b) · 5 marks · Long answerWater Resources

How has the overuse of underground water created a serious crisis in many parts of India? Explain with examples in the context of sustainable development. (2+3=5)

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2025 board paper, set 32/2/1.

Hints

Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.

Hint 1

Think about what happens when withdrawal is faster than recharge by rain.

Hint 2

Recall regions with intensive irrigation and fast urban growth.

Hint 3

Finish by saying why this threatens future generations' needs.

Step-by-step solution

Each step shows the marks it earns, as an examiner would award them. Checked by an independent re-solve from the question paper.

  1. Groundwater is a renewable resource, replenished by nature through rain.

    1 mark

  2. It can still be overused by excessive irrigation, industries and so on. If we draw more than rain replenishes, the resource is overused.

    1 mark

  3. Evidence shows groundwater is under serious threat in many parts of the country. Many districts report a steep fall in water level, and nearly one-third of the country is overusing its groundwater reserves.

    1 mark

  4. Overuse is especially seen in agriculturally prosperous Punjab and Western U.P., the hard-rock plateau areas of central and south India, some coastal areas and fast-growing urban settlements.

    1 mark

  5. If present use continues, most parts of India will face a serious water crisis. This goes against sustainable development, which requires that future generations also get water.

    1 mark

Answer: Drawing more groundwater than rain recharges has caused falling water tables in Punjab, Western U.P., the peninsular plateau, coastal and urban areas. Nearly one-third of India is overusing it, so a water crisis looms and sustainability is threatened.

Where the marks are

  • Groundwater is renewable but can be overused (1 mark)
  • Use beyond replenishment by rain is overuse (1 mark)
  • Steep fall in water level and one-third of the country overusing (1 mark)
  • Named regions as examples such as Punjab and Western U.P. (1 mark)
  • Link to future water crisis and sustainability (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

  • Chapter: Water Resources (notes, formulas, where marks are lost and every past question)
Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Water Resources, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2025 board paper, set 32/2/1: every question, by section.

The question is transcribed from the official paper; figures are described in words. The solution, hints and chapter tag are ours. Spotted an error? Write tosupport@questionbuddy.in.