Consider the following statements:

1. 36% of India's districts are classified as "overexploited" or "critical" by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).

2. CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act.

3. India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The correct answer is option 2.

Key Points

• Classification of Districts by CGWA:
  • According to the data from NITI Aayog, the classification of India's groundwater assessment units is as follows:
  • Safe: 71%
  • Semi-critical: 10%
  • Critical: 4%
  • Over-exploited: 15%
  • This means that 15% of India's districts fall under "overexploited" or "critical" categories, not 36%.
  • Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• Formation of CGWA:
  • The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) was constituted under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Its primary function is to regulate and manage groundwater resources in India, including issuing guidelines and monitoring groundwater extraction.
  • Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• India's Groundwater Irrigation:
  • India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world, covering 39 million hectares, which accounts for 67% of its total irrigated area.
  • China and the USA follow India with 19 million hectares and 17 million hectares, respectively.
  • Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• Additional Information 
• Central Ground Water Board
  • Central Ground Water Board was established in 1970 by renaming the Exploratory Tube wells Organization 
  • Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), a subordinate office of the Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India.
  • It is the National Apex Agency entrusted with the responsibility of providing scientific inputs for the management of groundwater, exploration, monitoring, assessment, augmentation, and regulation of groundwater resources of the country. 
  • CGWB is under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.