UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — With poor rain, Cauvery panel decides to wait and watch

Q1. The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), the operational/technical arm of the Cauvery Water Management Authority, is composed of how many members?

  • A. Five
  • B. Seven
  • C. Nine
  • D. Eleven

Q2. With reference to the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), consider the following statements: 1. The CWMA functions under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. 2. The CWMA was constituted under Section 6A of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956. 3. The CWRC is the technical/operational arm of the CWMA. 4. The Chairperson of the CWMA holds office for a term of three years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The CWMA functions under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
  2. The CWMA was constituted under Section 6A of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
  3. The CWRC is the technical/operational arm of the CWMA.
  4. The Chairperson of the CWMA holds office for a term of three years.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. As per the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019, the proposed single standing Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal is to be headed by which one of the following?

  • A. A Chairperson
  • B. A Vice-Chairperson
  • C. A sitting judge of the Supreme Court nominated by the Chief Justice of India
  • D. The Union Secretary, Department of Water Resources

Q4. Comparing the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019 with the pre-amendment scheme of the 1956 Act, consider the following statements: 1. The amendment provides for a single standing Tribunal in place of the practice of constituting a separate Tribunal for each dispute. 2. Before a dispute is referred to the Tribunal, the Central Government is required to set up a Disputes Resolution Committee to attempt an amicable settlement. 3. The single Tribunal is required to give its decision within five years, extendable by two years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The amendment provides for a single standing Tribunal in place of the practice of constituting a separate Tribunal for each dispute.
  2. Before a dispute is referred to the Tribunal, the Central Government is required to set up a Disputes Resolution Committee to attempt an amicable settlement.
  3. The single Tribunal is required to give its decision within five years, extendable by two years.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. The subject of 'Water' appears as Entry 17 of the State List, but is expressly made subject to a provision of the Union List that empowers Parliament to regulate inter-State rivers and river valleys. That Union List entry bears which number?

  • A. 17
  • B. 43
  • C. 56
  • D. 97

Q6. The Cauvery Water Management Authority, which operationalises the sharing of Cauvery waters, functions under which one of the following Union ministries?

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

Q7. Under the 2018 Supreme Court verdict modifying the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award, Tamil Nadu's annual share of Cauvery waters was fixed at how many TMC (thousand million cubic feet)?

  • A. 419
  • B. 404.25
  • C. 284.75
  • D. 192

Q8. The drainage basin of the Cauvery river extends over how many States (excluding Union Territories) of India?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q9. In the context of the Cauvery water-sharing arrangement being monitored by the CWRC, the term 'Biligundlu' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The inter-State gauging station at the Karnataka–Tamil Nadu border where regulated water releases are measured
  • B. A major storage reservoir in Karnataka's Cauvery catchment
  • C. The headquarters city of the Cauvery Water Management Authority
  • D. The point in Kerala where the Cauvery enters the plains

Q10. The 1924 Cauvery water-sharing agreement between the Madras Presidency and the princely State of Mysore was to remain valid for how many years before becoming subject to review?

  • A. 25
  • B. 50
  • C. 75
  • D. 99

Q11. With reference to inter-State river water disputes tribunals constituted under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, consider the following pairs (Tribunal — Year of constitution): 1. Ravi & Beas Water Tribunal — 1986 2. Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II — 2004 3. Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal — 2010 4. Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal — 2012 Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

  1. Ravi & Beas Water Tribunal — 1986
  2. Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II — 2004
  3. Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal — 2010
  4. Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal — 2012
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4