Question

The highest proportion of the total water used in the country is in which one of the following sectors?

Options

• Irrigation

• Industries

• Domestic use

• None of the above.

Answer 1

Irrigation

Explanation:

The agricultural sector uses the highest proportion of both surface water and groundwater in India. Approximately 89 per cent of surface water and 92 per cent of groundwater resources are directed exclusively toward irrigation. This heavy demand is driven by the country’s extensive reliance on agrarian economies and the intensive cultivation of water-demanding crops like rice, sugarcane, and wheat, leaving relatively small percentages for domestic and industrial purposes.