Which of the following prepared the Annual Groundwater Quality Report 2024?

Question

Which of the following prepared the Annual Groundwater Quality Report 2024?

1. Central Pollution Control Board

2. Central Water Commission

3. Central Groundwater Board

Select the correct answer from the code given below:

1. A. 1 and 2
2. B. Only 3 (Correct answer)
3. C. 2 and 3
4. D. Only 1

Correct Answer

Option B — Only 3

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Only 3.

Key Points

• The Annual Groundwater Quality Report 2024 was prepared by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), giving option (b).
• The CGWB works under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and is the nodal agency for groundwater assessment, monitoring and regulation in India.

Additional Information

• Distinguish the three bodies named in the options:
  • Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) — groundwater assessment; publishes the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment jointly with the states
  • Central Water Commission (CWC) — surface water, flood forecasting, and dam safety
  • Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) — pollution control under the Water Act, 1974 and Air Act, 1981
• India is the largest user of groundwater in the world, drawing more than the United States and China combined; groundwater supplies about 60% of irrigation and 85% of rural drinking water.
• Major groundwater contaminants in India: nitrate, fluoride, arsenic (notably in the Ganga-Brahmaputra plains of West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh), iron and salinity.
• The Atal Bhujal Yojana promotes community-led sustainable groundwater management in water-stressed districts.