Water is one of the most essential natural resources for survival, but managing it has become a serious challenge in a country like India. Chapter 4 of the Class 12 Geography textbook India: People and Economy focuses on Water Resources—a topic that covers surface and groundwater availability, utilisation, major river basins, water conservation methods, and related issues like overuse and pollution. This chapter also introduces key concepts like water scarcity, watershed development, and interlinking of rivers, all of which are very important in the Indian context.
I decided to write on this topic because water is something we all depend on every single day, but most of us don’t realise how unevenly it’s distributed across India. While some areas suffer from droughts, others face floods. Students preparing for board exams, UPSC, or state-level competitive exams need to understand the basics of India’s water challenges and how we’re trying to fix them. Also, the topic links to current affairs like water disputes between states and climate change. This article gives a clear overview of the chapter and also provides a direct PDF download link from NCERT’s official site.
India’s Water Availability and Distribution
India receives around 4,000 billion cubic metres (BCM) of water annually through rainfall and snowmelt, but only 1,123 BCM is usable. Out of this, surface water contributes around 690 BCM and groundwater contributes 433 BCM. But the availability of water is not the same everywhere. States like Punjab and Haryana have higher groundwater usage, while Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu face regular water shortages.
Major river basins in India include:
- Ganga
- Brahmaputra
- Indus
- Godavari
- Krishna
- Narmada
- Mahanadi
These rivers support a huge population and are used for drinking, irrigation, industry, and even hydroelectricity.
Utilisation of Water Resources
Water in India is mainly used for:
- Irrigation (90%)
- Drinking water
- Industrial use
- Hydropower generation
- Navigation and recreation
Over time, with increasing population and urbanisation, the demand for water has gone up sharply. Unfortunately, the overuse of groundwater in states like Punjab, Gujarat, and UP has led to a drop in water tables, causing wells to dry up and agriculture to suffer.
Water Scarcity and Conservation
Water scarcity doesn’t always mean there’s no water. It can also mean:
- Poor water quality
- Uneven distribution
- Seasonal availability
For example, Kerala receives high rainfall, but parts of it still face water shortage in summer due to poor storage systems.
Measures to tackle scarcity:
- Rainwater harvesting
- Watershed management
- Drip and sprinkler irrigation
- Check dams and percolation tanks
- Water recycling in urban areas
Many government programmes like Jal Shakti Abhiyan and Atal Bhujal Yojana are also focused on saving and managing water better.
Download PDF: NCERT Class 12 Geography Chapter 4 – Water Resources
To read the full chapter officially published by NCERT, you can download the PDF using the link below:
NCERT Class 12 Geography (India People and Economy) Chapter 4: Water Resources
