UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — T.N. Assembly passes Bill to set up Water Resources Management Authority

Q1. With reference to the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Management Authority (TNWRMA) created by the Tamil Nadu Water Resources (Regulation, Management and Augmentation) Bill, 2026, consider the following: 1. The Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu is the Chairperson of the Authority. 2. The Water Resources Secretary is the Member Secretary of the Authority. 3. Three experts in water resources, nominated by the State, are members of the Authority. 4. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu presides over the Authority as its ex-officio head. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu is the Chairperson of the Authority.
  2. The Water Resources Secretary is the Member Secretary of the Authority.
  3. Three experts in water resources, nominated by the State, are members of the Authority.
  4. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu presides over the Authority as its ex-officio head.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1 and 3
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. In the composition of the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Management Authority (TNWRMA), the Secretaries of how many departments serve as ex-officio members?

  • A. Five
  • B. Six
  • C. Seven
  • D. Eight

Q3. The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board — one of the fragmented bodies that handled water functions before an integrated authority was created — was constituted under a State Act enacted in which year?

  • A. 1961
  • B. 1970
  • C. 1978
  • D. 2003

Q4. Consider the following statements about Tamil Nadu's water bodies as they existed before the integrated authority was created: 1. The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board was set up primarily for water supply and drainage functions rather than irrigation. 2. The Chennai (Madras) Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board's jurisdiction extended only to the Chennai metropolitan area, not the whole State. 3. The Tamil Nadu Groundwater (Development and Management) Act, 2003 was enacted to regulate surface water bodies of the State. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board was set up primarily for water supply and drainage functions rather than irrigation.
  2. The Chennai (Madras) Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board's jurisdiction extended only to the Chennai metropolitan area, not the whole State.
  3. The Tamil Nadu Groundwater (Development and Management) Act, 2003 was enacted to regulate surface water bodies of the State.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. At the Union level, the model frameworks urging States to set up integrated water resources management authorities are circulated and driven principally by which of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Jal Shakti (Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation)
  • B. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • C. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
  • D. Ministry of Panchayati Raj

Q6. Which one of the following is the Union Government's premier technical organisation for water resources development that anchors national river-basin planning underpinning such integrated management frameworks?

  • A. Central Water Commission
  • B. Central Ground Water Board
  • C. National Water Development Agency
  • D. Central Pollution Control Board

Q7. With reference to the constitutional position of water in India, consider the following: 1. Water, including water supplies, irrigation and canals, is a subject in the State List (Entry 17). 2. Regulation of inter-State rivers, to the extent declared by Parliament to be in the public interest, is a subject in the Union List (Entry 56). 3. Article 262 enables Parliament to provide by law for the adjudication of inter-State river water disputes. 4. Water is enumerated in the Concurrent List, giving the Union and the States equal legislative competence over it. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Water, including water supplies, irrigation and canals, is a subject in the State List (Entry 17).
  2. Regulation of inter-State rivers, to the extent declared by Parliament to be in the public interest, is a subject in the Union List (Entry 56).
  3. Article 262 enables Parliament to provide by law for the adjudication of inter-State river water disputes.
  4. Water is enumerated in the Concurrent List, giving the Union and the States equal legislative competence over it.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, which allocates legislative competence over water between the Union and the States, distributes subjects across how many Lists?

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

Q9. Consider the following statements about Tamil Nadu's inter-State water disputes: 1. The Cauvery dispute involves Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, whereas the Mullaiperiyar dispute is essentially between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. 2. Following the Supreme Court's 2018 verdict, the Cauvery Water Management Authority was constituted to implement a scheme framed under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956. 3. In its 2018 judgment the Supreme Court left the tribunal's allocation untouched and declined to alter the shares of the Cauvery basin States. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Cauvery dispute involves Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, whereas the Mullaiperiyar dispute is essentially between Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
  2. Following the Supreme Court's 2018 verdict, the Cauvery Water Management Authority was constituted to implement a scheme framed under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
  3. In its 2018 judgment the Supreme Court left the tribunal's allocation untouched and declined to alter the shares of the Cauvery basin States.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. In the context of the Cauvery dispute, the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) is best described as:

  • A. A tribunal that adjudicates the Cauvery water-sharing dispute afresh
  • B. An implementation body constituted under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 to give effect to the Supreme Court-approved scheme for regulating the release and sharing of Cauvery waters
  • C. A body under the Central Ground Water Authority regulating groundwater in the Cauvery delta
  • D. An inter-State council set up under Article 263 to promote coordination between the basin States

Q11. Consider the following statements comparing groundwater regulatory bodies: 1. The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) is constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. 2. The Tamil Nadu Groundwater Authority was established under the Tamil Nadu Groundwater (Development and Management) Act, 2003. 3. The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is the statutory regulator that grants No Objection Certificates and levies environmental compensation for illegal groundwater extraction. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) is constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
  2. The Tamil Nadu Groundwater Authority was established under the Tamil Nadu Groundwater (Development and Management) Act, 2003.
  3. The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is the statutory regulator that grants No Objection Certificates and levies environmental compensation for illegal groundwater extraction.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. Consider the following statements on integrated water resources management (IWRM) and the National Water Policy: 1. The National Water Policy, 2012 treats safe water for drinking and sanitation as a pre-emptive priority ahead of other water uses. 2. IWRM adopts the river basin/sub-basin as the basic hydrological unit for planning and development of water resources. 3. Under the IWRM approach reflected in the National Water Policy, surface water and groundwater are to be planned and managed as separate, mutually unconnected resources. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The National Water Policy, 2012 treats safe water for drinking and sanitation as a pre-emptive priority ahead of other water uses.
  2. IWRM adopts the river basin/sub-basin as the basic hydrological unit for planning and development of water resources.
  3. Under the IWRM approach reflected in the National Water Policy, surface water and groundwater are to be planned and managed as separate, mutually unconnected resources.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3