UPSC Previous Year Questions (Groundwater Contamination and Chronic Illnesses) – Explained

 

UPSC Previous Year Questions (Groundwater Contamination and Chronic Illnesses) – Explained

Prelims Questions

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1. UPSC Prelims 2020 – Nitrate Contamination

Q: Excessive use of which of the following in agriculture leads to blue baby syndrome?
a) Urea
b) Potassium chloride
c) Nitrate fertilizers
d) DDT

✅ Answer: c) Nitrate fertilizers

📘 Explanation: Nitrate from fertilizers leaches into groundwater. Infants drinking this contaminated water develop methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome), where oxygen transport is impaired.

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2. UPSC Prelims 2019 – Fluoride in Drinking Water

Q: Excessive fluoride in drinking water causes which of the following?
a) Kidney failure
b) Skin cancer
c) Dental and skeletal fluorosis
d) Liver cirrhosis

✅ Answer: c) Dental and skeletal fluorosis

📘 Explanation: Fluoride, when present beyond 1.5 mg/L, causes mottling of teeth (dental fluorosis) and bone deformation (skeletal fluorosis). Major issue in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, MP.

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3. UPSC Prelims 2018 – Arsenic Source

Q: The major source of arsenic contamination in groundwater is:
a) Industrial effluents
b) Chemical fertilizers
c) Geogenic sources
d) Municipal solid waste

✅ Answer: c) Geogenic sources

📘 Explanation: Arsenic is naturally present in soil and rocks in the Gangetic belt. Over-extraction and oxidation release arsenic into groundwater. Industrial effluents worsen it but are not the primary source.

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4. UPSC Prelims 2016 – Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

Q: The Water Act 1974 was enacted for:
a) Regulating groundwater extraction
b) Preventing marine oil pollution
c) Preventing and controlling water pollution
d) Water conservation in agriculture

✅ Answer: c) Preventing and controlling water pollution

📘 Explanation: The Water Act, 1974, empowers CPCB and SPCBs to monitor and control water pollution, but it does not regulate groundwater extraction – a major policy gap.

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5. UPSC Prelims 2014 – CPCB and Pollution Monitoring

Q: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) functions under which ministry?
a) Ministry of Jal Shakti
b) Ministry of Health
c) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
d) Ministry of Science and Technology

✅ Answer: c) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

📘 Explanation: CPCB is responsible for setting pollution standards and coordinating with SPCBs for air and water quality monitoring, including groundwater pollution from industries.

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Mains Questions

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1. GS Paper III – Mains 2023

Q: Discuss the challenges associated with groundwater contamination in India and suggest sustainable solutions.

📘 Key Points to Include:

• Geogenic + anthropogenic contaminants (fluoride, arsenic, nitrates, heavy metals)

• Health impacts: Blue baby syndrome, fluorosis, cancers

• Policy gaps: No groundwater-specific law, weak role of CGWB

• Solutions: Legal reform, real-time monitoring, community awareness, aquifer mapping

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2. GS Paper II – Mains 2021

Q: Examine the effectiveness of India’s water governance framework.

📘 Key Points:

• Multiple overlapping agencies: CGWB, CPCB, SPCBs, Jal Shakti

• No unified data platform or command structure

• Lack of legally binding groundwater protection

• Recommendations: Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), Empower CGWB, link with health outcomes

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3. GS Paper I – Mains 2019

Q: Discuss the spatial distribution and quality concerns of India’s groundwater resources.

📘 Coverage:

• Arsenic in Gangetic plains, fluoride in Deccan

• Uranium in Punjab, nitrates in rural belts

• Link with agricultural practices, industrial discharge

• Emphasize groundwater as both a quantity and quality challenge

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4. GS Paper III – Mains 2017

Q: What are the environmental and health concerns arising from nitrate contamination in groundwater?

📘 Expected Answer:

• Source: Fertilizer overuse, sewage leakage

• Health: Blue baby syndrome, cancer risks

• Environmental concern: Eutrophication of water bodies

• Management: Biofertilizers, buffer zones, regulation of fertilizer subsidies

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5. Essay Paper – Mains 2018

Topic: “Water disputes in India are more about quality than quantity.”

📘 Angle to Discuss:

• Pollution vs. access: Toxic water is as dangerous as no water

• Inter-state blame over polluted rivers and groundwater

• Public health policy and safe water as a fundamental right

• Role of Jal Shakti Ministry and reforms