Q41. Which of the following states is considered a major beneficiary of the Damodar Valley Corporation project in terms of flood control and irrigation?
Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects: RAS Prelims MCQs
74 RAS Prelims MCQs on irrigation in India cover the sources and types of irrigation, the major projects and the river water disputes. Traditional rainwater harvesting structures, canal irrigation and its problems, the Indira Gandhi Canal, Bhakra Nangal, the Narmada tribunal and the Krishna disputes are asked as facts, matches and statements.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 41–50 of 74 questions
Q42. Read the following statements regarding Khadin:
I. It is primarily designed to harvest surface runoff for agriculture in arid rocky tracts.
II. It is extensively used in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan.
III. It consists of an earthen embankment built across the lower hill slopes.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. It is primarily designed to harvest surface runoff for agriculture in arid rocky tracts.
II. It is extensively used in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan.
III. It consists of an earthen embankment built across the lower hill slopes.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Khadin is a traditional and highly effective rainwater harvesting system used in the arid regions of Rajasthan, especially Jaisalmer. It involves building an earthen embankment across lower hill slopes to capture surface runoff from rocky catchments. The harvested water saturates the soil, allowing for successful agriculture in the desert environment while simultaneously recharging the local groundwater aquifers effectively.
Q43. Which of the following best defines "Irrigation Efficiency"?
Explanation
Irrigation efficiency is a crucial metric that measures how effectively water is used in an irrigation system. It is defined as the ratio between the volume of water actually consumed by the crops through evapotranspiration and the total volume of water diverted or delivered at the head of the canal. This helps identify losses due to seepage and evaporation.
Q44. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the options given below:
| Lift Canal of IGNP - Old Name | New Name |
|---|---|
| A. Bikaner-Lunkaransar Lift Canal | i. Dr. Karni Singh Lift Canal |
| B. Nohar-Sahwa Lift Canal | ii. Guru Jambheshwar Lift Canal |
| C. Kolayat Lift Canal | iii. Kanwar Sen Lift Canal |
| D. Phalodi Lift Canal | iv. Chaudhari Kumbharam Lift Canal |
Explanation
The lift canals of the Indira Gandhi Canal Project were renamed to honor prominent figures. The Bikaner-Lunkaransar Lift Canal is now the Kanwar Sen Lift Canal. The Nohar-Sahwa became the Chaudhari Kumbharam Lift Canal. The Kolayat was renamed the Dr. Karni Singh Lift Canal, and the Phalodi Lift Canal is now known as the Guru Jambheshwar Lift Canal.
Q45. Based on the guidelines of typical National Water Policies in India, select the correct descending order (highest priority first) of the following water allocation priorities:
A. Ecology
B. Drinking water
C. Agro-industries
D. Irrigation
E. Hydropower
A. Ecology
B. Drinking water
C. Agro-industries
D. Irrigation
E. Hydropower
Explanation
According to India’s National Water Policy, the allocation of water resources follows a specific hierarchy based on necessity. Drinking water is always the top priority. This is followed by ecological requirements to maintain river health. Irrigation is prioritized next to ensure food security, followed by hydropower generation. Industrial use, specifically agro-industries, typically occupies the lower end of the priority list.
Q46. Read the following statements and select the correct option:
Statement I: The Indira Gandhi Canal has transformed barren deserts into lush agricultural fields in Western Rajasthan.
Statement II: The extensive canal network in the Thar desert has caused severe waterlogging and problems of ‘Sem’ in several areas like Badopal.
Statement I: The Indira Gandhi Canal has transformed barren deserts into lush agricultural fields in Western Rajasthan.
Statement II: The extensive canal network in the Thar desert has caused severe waterlogging and problems of ‘Sem’ in several areas like Badopal.
Explanation
The Indira Gandhi Canal has successfully transformed large parts of the Thar Desert into productive agricultural land. However, this intensive irrigation in an area with high evaporation and poor drainage has directly led to severe waterlogging problems, locally known as ‘Sem’. Areas like Badopal are classic examples where the environmental consequence of rising water tables has negatively impacted the landscape.
Q47. Read the following statements regarding Rainwater Harvesting (RWH):
I. Rooftop rainwater harvesting is primarily an urban phenomenon in modern times.
II. RWH helps in reducing peak storm runoff and thus mitigates urban flooding.
III. It strictly involves the storage of water in surface tanks without any groundwater recharge.
IV. The Central Ground Water Board highly recommends RWH to tackle overexploited dark zones.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. Rooftop rainwater harvesting is primarily an urban phenomenon in modern times.
II. RWH helps in reducing peak storm runoff and thus mitigates urban flooding.
III. It strictly involves the storage of water in surface tanks without any groundwater recharge.
IV. The Central Ground Water Board highly recommends RWH to tackle overexploited dark zones.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Rooftop rainwater harvesting is a common urban practice that helps reduce storm runoff and mitigate flooding. The Central Ground Water Board strongly advocates for these systems to recharge depleted aquifers in overexploited zones. However, RWH is not limited to surface storage; it often involves direct injection into the ground to replenish groundwater levels, making the third statement factually incorrect.
Q48. What is the fundamental difference between surface water irrigation and groundwater irrigation?
Explanation
The fundamental distinction between these two types of irrigation lies in their source and extraction method. Surface water irrigation involves utilizing water from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs through a network of open canals and channels. In contrast, groundwater irrigation involves extracting water stored in underground aquifers through the use of traditional wells, tube wells, or borewells equipped with mechanical pumps.
Q49. Identify the correct East to West geographical sequence of the major rivers of the Peninsular plateau that feature prominent irrigation projects:
Explanation
Following the geography of India from the east coast towards the west, the Mahanadi River flows through Odisha in the east. Moving westward across the peninsula, one encounters the Godavari and then the Krishna River systems. Finally, the Narmada River is a major west-flowing river that drains into the Arabian Sea, placing it furthest west among the group of rivers mentioned.
Q50. The Tehri dam project has been historically controversial due to which primary environmental and geographical reason?
Explanation
The Tehri Dam project faced significant opposition primarily because it is situated in the Central Himalayan Seismic Gap, a region highly prone to major earthquakes. Critics and geologists argued that a dam failure in such a sensitive area could cause catastrophic flooding in the densely populated downstream Gangetic plains. This safety concern remains a central theme in the ongoing debate.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 41 | (c) West Bengal and Jharkhand |
| 42 | (d) I, II and III |
| 43 | (a) Ratio of water consumed by crops to water delivered at the canal head |
| 44 | (a) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii |
| 45 | (c) B, A, D, E, C |
| 46 | (c) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II is a direct consequence of the activities described in Statement I. |
| 47 | (a) I, II and IV only |
| 48 | (d) Surface water uses rivers and canals, while groundwater uses subsurface wells |
| 49 | (a) Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Narmada |
| 50 | (b) Its location in a highly active seismic zone in the Himalayas |
Key facts from Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
- Wells and tube wells account for the highest net irrigated area; the largest contiguous canal-irrigated area is the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
- Johad is the structure of Rajasthan, Surangam of Kerala, Zing of Ladakh and Eri of Tamil Nadu.
- The Indira Gandhi Canal is the longest canal system in India and has lift canals; dune stabilisation by afforestation is part of its command area development.
- The reservoir behind the Bhakra Dam is Gobind Sagar; the Tehri Dam, the tallest in India, is in Uttarakhand.
- Interstate water disputes are dealt with under Article 262 and the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act; the Krishna dispute involves Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
- Unlined canals cause waterlogging and secondary salinisation; saline soils are reclaimed with gypsum and leaching.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects?
This page has 74 practice MCQs on Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects (Indian Geography). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which source irrigates the largest area in India?
Tube wells and wells, which account for the highest net irrigated area. They are common in the Indo-Gangetic plains, which have deep, readily recharged alluvial aquifers, and wells are also widely used in the peninsular plateau.
Which Article deals with interstate water disputes?
Article 262 of the Constitution. It lets Parliament make a law to settle disputes over the waters of interstate rivers, and the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act of 1956 sets up the tribunals.
Which is the tallest dam in India?
The Tehri Dam in Uttarakhand, on the Bhagirathi river. It is a multipurpose project for irrigation and hydropower and is one of the tallest dams in the world.