UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — World Water Day Conclave 2026 Reinforces Industry-Led Water Stewardship, Innovation, and Data-Driven Governance

Q1. The Ministry of Jal Shakti, constituted in 2019, was created by merging which two of the following ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation
  • B. Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • C. Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and the Ministry of Rural Development
  • D. Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Q2. Within the Ministry of Jal Shakti, which department is the lead organiser/host of the World Water Day Conclave 2026?

  • A. Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
  • B. Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation
  • C. Central Water Commission
  • D. Central Ground Water Board

Q3. Consider the following statements about World Water Day: 1. It is observed every year on 22 March. 2. It was designated by a United Nations General Assembly resolution adopted in 1992. 3. The first World Water Day was observed in 1993. 4. It was first recommended at the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It is observed every year on 22 March.
  2. It was designated by a United Nations General Assembly resolution adopted in 1992.
  3. The first World Water Day was observed in 1993.
  4. It was first recommended at the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q4. World Water Day observances in India, including the World Water Day Conclave 2026, are organised by which Union Ministry?

  • A. Ministry of Jal Shakti
  • B. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • C. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Earth Sciences

Q5. What was the theme of the World Water Day Conclave 2026 held by the Ministry of Jal Shakti?

  • A. Industry for Water
  • B. Water for Peace
  • C. Water and Gender
  • D. Leaving No One Behind

Q6. How many winners of the Jal Shakti Hackathon were felicitated at the World Water Day Conclave 2026?

  • A. 17
  • B. 19
  • C. 22
  • D. 25

Q7. Consider the following statements about Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) in India: 1. ZLD means industrial wastewater is treated and recovered such that effectively no liquid effluent leaves the facility. 2. ZLD compliance is typically enforced through the Consent to Operate mechanism of the Pollution Control Boards. 3. The obligations on highly polluting industries to control effluent draw their statutory backing primarily from the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. ZLD means industrial wastewater is treated and recovered such that effectively no liquid effluent leaves the facility.
  2. ZLD compliance is typically enforced through the Consent to Operate mechanism of the Pollution Control Boards.
  3. The obligations on highly polluting industries to control effluent draw their statutory backing primarily from the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. The Zero Liquid Discharge obligation on the 17 categories of highly polluting industries in India is principally implemented through the Consent to Operate issued/monitored under which authority?

  • A. Central Pollution Control Board and State Pollution Control Boards
  • B. Central Ground Water Authority
  • C. National Green Tribunal
  • D. Bureau of Indian Standards

Q9. In the context of industrial water stewardship, a 'water-positive' industrial unit is best described as one that:

  • A. Returns or replenishes to the environment and community more water than it draws for its operations
  • B. Treats and recycles its entire effluent so that no liquid leaves the plant boundary
  • C. Meets its full water requirement exclusively from harvested rainwater
  • D. Keeps its annual freshwater withdrawal exactly equal to the volume it consumes

Q10. The National Water Informatics Centre (NWIC), India's single-window repository of water-resources data that maintains India-WRIS, was established in which year?

  • A. 2009
  • B. 2016
  • C. 2018
  • D. 2019

Q11. Consider the following statements about the Jal Shakti Abhiyan and the 'Catch the Rain' campaign: 1. 'Catch the Rain' is a campaign under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan associated with the slogan 'Catch the Rain, Where it Falls, When it Falls.' 2. The Jal Shakti Abhiyan was launched in 2015 as a component of the Swachh Bharat Mission. 3. The 2025 edition of the campaign was launched on World Water Day, 22 March 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 'Catch the Rain' is a campaign under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan associated with the slogan 'Catch the Rain, Where it Falls, When it Falls.'
  2. The Jal Shakti Abhiyan was launched in 2015 as a component of the Swachh Bharat Mission.
  3. The 2025 edition of the campaign was launched on World Water Day, 22 March 2025.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. Consider the following statements about India's water-stress profile: 1. India holds about 4% of the world's freshwater resources while supporting around 18% of the global population. 2. An annual per-capita water availability below 1,700 cubic metres is treated as a 'water-stressed' condition. 3. An annual per-capita water availability below 1,000 cubic metres is treated as a 'water-scarcity' condition. 4. India's annual per-capita water availability rose between 2001 and 2021 owing to improved storage infrastructure. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. India holds about 4% of the world's freshwater resources while supporting around 18% of the global population.
  2. An annual per-capita water availability below 1,700 cubic metres is treated as a 'water-stressed' condition.
  3. An annual per-capita water availability below 1,000 cubic metres is treated as a 'water-scarcity' condition.
  4. India's annual per-capita water availability rose between 2001 and 2021 owing to improved storage infrastructure.
  • A. 1 and 4
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 4 only