UPSC Mains 2024 GS1 Q14: model answer
The groundwater potential of the gangetic valley is on a serious decline. How may it affect the food security of India?
What the question wants
Explain the decline and trace its effect on availability, access and stability of food.
How to structure it
Intro: The Indo-Gangetic plain holds one of the world's largest alluvial aquifers. Body: (1) Causes; (2) Effects on food security (availability, cost, stability); (3) Remedies. Conclusion: Water security is food security.
- 1(1) Causes
- 2(2) Effects on food security (availability, cost, stability)
- 3(3) Remedies
Model answer
The Indo-Gangetic plain holds one of the world's largest alluvial aquifers. It feeds India's grain bowl of Punjab, Haryana, western UP and Bihar. Satellite (GRACE) studies and Central Ground Water Board data show steep falls in water tables, especially in the north-west.
Causes
- Rice-wheat cropping with free power for tube-wells.
- MSP and procurement favour water-heavy crops.
- Falling recharge due to urban paving and weaker monsoons in places.
- Pollution: arsenic in Bihar, Bengal; fluoride and nitrates.
Effects on food security
- Availability: most irrigation here depends on groundwater; falling tables threaten wheat and rice output, the backbone of the central pool and PDS.
- Cost: deeper borewells raise costs; small farmers drop out.
- Stability: groundwater is the buffer during drought; losing it makes harvests more volatile.
- Nutrition and health: arsenic-contaminated water enters the food chain through rice.
- Rural livelihoods: lower incomes reduce access to food.
- Climate stress: heatwaves raise irrigation demand further.
Remedies
- Crop diversification to pulses, maize and millets with procurement support.
- Direct seeded rice and micro-irrigation.
- Rational power pricing; solar pumps under PM-KUSUM with metering.
- Atal Bhujal Yojana style community management; recharge through ponds.
Water security is food security. Saving the Gangetic aquifer is the cheapest insurance for India's future harvests.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
Indo-Gangetic aquifer GRACE rice-wheat cycle central pool arsenic crop diversification
Where most answers lose marks
- Not linking to dimensions of food security.
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Question text as printed in the official UPSC question paper: https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/QP_CSM_2024_GenStud_I_03102024.pdf The model answer is original Battle IAS work; use it to learn structure, not to memorise.