UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — In the presence of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah, the governments of Rajasthan and Haryana inks an important agreement for construction and implementation of Yamuna Water Project

Q1. Releases of Yamuna water at the Hathnikund Barrage among the riparian states are regulated by the Upper Yamuna River Board, which 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 Earth Sciences
• D. Ministry of Home Affairs

Q2. With reference to the Hathnikund Barrage, consider the following statements: 1. It is situated on the Yamuna river in Haryana. 2. It diverts water into the Western Yamuna Canal as well as the Eastern Yamuna Canal. 3. The Western Yamuna Canal off-taking here meets the shares of both Haryana and Delhi. 4. The entire flow of the Yamuna is diverted into canals at the barrage, leaving no water in the river channel below it. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. It is situated on the Yamuna river in Haryana.
2. It diverts water into the Western Yamuna Canal as well as the Eastern Yamuna Canal.
3. The Western Yamuna Canal off-taking here meets the shares of both Haryana and Delhi.
4. The entire flow of the Yamuna is diverted into canals at the barrage, leaving no water in the river channel below it.

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 1, 2 and 3
• C. 2, 3 and 4
• D. 1, 3 and 4

Q3. Under which Article of the Constitution may Parliament, by law, provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall exercise jurisdiction over disputes relating to the waters of an inter-State river — the Article under which the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 was enacted?

• A. Article 262
• B. Article 263
• C. Article 131
• D. Article 246

Q4. With reference to the constitutional and legal framework for inter-State river water disputes in India, consider the following statements: 1. Article 262 empowers Parliament to bar even the Supreme Court from adjudicating such disputes. 2. The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act was enacted in 1956. 3. A water disputes tribunal is chaired by a sitting or retired judge of the Supreme Court. 4. A tribunal's award is recommendatory and not binding on the party states. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Article 262 empowers Parliament to bar even the Supreme Court from adjudicating such disputes.
2. The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act was enacted in 1956.
3. A water disputes tribunal is chaired by a sitting or retired judge of the Supreme Court.
4. A tribunal's award is recommendatory and not binding on the party states.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1, 2 and 3
• C. 2, 3 and 4
• D. 1 and 4 only

Q5. With reference to the Rajasthan–Haryana Yamuna Water Project agreement, consider the following statements: 1. The water is to be carried from the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana to water-stressed districts of Rajasthan. 2. Phase-1 envisages transfer of up to 577 MCM of water during the July–October period. 3. The water is to be conveyed through open lined canals rather than buried pipelines. 4. The agreement was signed by the governments of Rajasthan and Haryana. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. The water is to be carried from the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana to water-stressed districts of Rajasthan.
2. Phase-1 envisages transfer of up to 577 MCM of water during the July–October period.
3. The water is to be conveyed through open lined canals rather than buried pipelines.
4. The agreement was signed by the governments of Rajasthan and Haryana.

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 3 only
• C. 2 and 4
• D. 4 only

Q6. Under Phase-1 of the Rajasthan–Haryana Yamuna Water Project, Rajasthan can draw its share of Yamuna water at Hathnikund only after the full carrying capacity of the Western Yamuna Canal has first been utilised by which State (inclusive of Delhi's share)?

• A. Haryana
• B. Uttar Pradesh
• C. Himachal Pradesh
• D. Punjab

Q7. With reference to the Shekhawati region, the principal intended beneficiary of the Yamuna Water Project, consider the following statements: 1. It comprises the districts of Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Churu. 2. It lies in the semi-arid Thar belt, with average annual rainfall of roughly 450–600 mm. 3. Unlike most of Rajasthan, it receives the bulk of its annual rainfall from the northeast (winter) monsoon rather than the southwest monsoon. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. It comprises the districts of Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Churu.
2. It lies in the semi-arid Thar belt, with average annual rainfall of roughly 450–600 mm.
3. Unlike most of Rajasthan, it receives the bulk of its annual rainfall from the northeast (winter) monsoon rather than the southwest monsoon.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. The Shekhawati tract, targeted by the Yamuna pipeline, forms part of which desert — the largest in India?

• A. Thar Desert
• B. Rann of Kutch
• C. Cholistan Desert
• D. Spiti cold desert

Q9. Consider the following as instances of inter-State water/dam projects advanced through Centre-mediated consensus among states (rather than settled by a tribunal award or still locked in litigation): 1. Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project 2. Rajasthan–Haryana Yamuna Water Project 3. Sutlej–Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal 4. Renukaji/Lakhwar upper-Yamuna storage projects Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified?

1. Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project
2. Rajasthan–Haryana Yamuna Water Project
3. Sutlej–Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal
4. Renukaji/Lakhwar upper-Yamuna storage projects

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 3 only
• C. 3 and 4
• D. 1, 2 and 4

Q10. Under the May 1994 Upper Yamuna water-sharing MoU, in times of scarcity which one of the following has the first (priority) claim to the available water for drinking purposes?

• A. National Capital Territory of Delhi
• B. Haryana
• C. Uttar Pradesh
• D. Rajasthan

Q11. With reference to the Jal Jeevan Mission, to which the Yamuna pipeline project is expected to contribute in Rajasthan, consider the following statements: 1. It aims to provide functional household tap connections to every rural household. 2. In the Union Budget 2025-26 its timeline was extended up to 2028 with an enhanced outlay. 3. As of December 2025, fewer than half of India's rural households had been provided tap water connections under the Mission. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. It aims to provide functional household tap connections to every rural household.
2. In the Union Budget 2025-26 its timeline was extended up to 2028 with an enhanced outlay.
3. As of December 2025, fewer than half of India's rural households had been provided tap water connections under the Mission.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. With reference to the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project, on which a multi-state consensus was reached in 2026, consider the following statements: 1. It is being built on the Tons river, a tributary of the Yamuna. 2. Six states reached consensus on it in a meeting chaired by the Union Home Minister. 3. Under the consensus, the participating states will bear 90% of the water-component cost while the Centre bears the remaining 10%. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. It is being built on the Tons river, a tributary of the Yamuna.
2. Six states reached consensus on it in a meeting chaired by the Union Home Minister.
3. Under the consensus, the participating states will bear 90% of the water-component cost while the Centre bears the remaining 10%.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3