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id: "66cef150e9dce5550f8f8ed7"
title: "Water Resources"
board: "CBSE"
curriculum: "CBSE"
class: "Class 10"
subject: "Social Science"
book: "Contemporary India"
chapter: "Water Resources"
chapter_slug: "water-resources"
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---

# Water Resources

The chapter discusses the critical issue of water resources, emphasizing the paradox of water scarcity despite the abundance of water on the Earth’s surface. While three-fourths of the Earth is covered by water, only a small proportion is freshwater, primarily sourced from surface runoff and groundwater within the hydrological cycle.

---

## Knowledge Snapshot

| Field | Details |
| :--- | :--- |
| Class | Class 10 |
| Subject | Social Science |
| Book | Contemporary India |
| Chapter | Water Resources |
| Pages | 19-29 |

---

## Chapter Summary

### Short Summary
The chapter highlights the complexities surrounding water resources, addressing both their abundance and the challenges posed by over-exploitation, urbanization, and unequal access, leading to significant water scarcity issues worldwide.

### Detailed Summary
Water scarcity is a growing concern globally, predicted to affect nearly two billion people by 2025. Despite the Earth's surface being predominantly covered by water, the freshwater available for use is limited and affected by seasonal and annual precipitation variations. Factors such as over-exploitation for irrigation, especially in agriculture, contribute to decreased water availability. The industrialization and urbanization witnessed post-independence in India have increased water demand, exacerbating the imbalance between water supply and demand. Housing societies often utilize groundwater pumps, further depleting fragile water resources, thus threatening food security and overall sustainability.

---

## Topic-Wise Explanation

### Introduction
The chapter begins by illustrating the importance of freshwater and the need to manage it sustainably within the context of the hydrological cycle.

### Water Scarcity and the Need for Water Conservation and Management
Water scarcity arises from over-exploitation, excessive use, and unequal access to water resources, underscoring the importance of conservation and management efforts.

### Multi-Purpose River Projects and Integrated Water Resources Management
(This topic is not covered in the text.)

### Rainwater Harvesting
(This topic is not covered in the text.)

### Conclusion
The chapter concludes by stressing the urgent need for integrated approaches to water management to address the challenges posed by rising water demands driven by population growth and industrial activities.

---

## Core Ideas

| Idea | Explanation |
| :--- | :--- |
| Over-Exploitation of Resources | Over-exploitation of water resources, especially for agriculture, leads to depletion.
| Urbanization Impact | Urban lifestyles and industrial demands greatly increase water usage and strain existing resources. |

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## Key Concepts

| Concept | Meaning |
| :--- | :--- |
| Hydrological Cycle | The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth’s surface.
| Freshwater Scarcity | Limited availability of freshwater due to various factors like overuse and pollution. |

---

## Important Points for Revision

* Three-fourths of Earth’s surface is covered with water.
* Only a small fraction of water is freshwater usable by humans.
* Water resources are threatened by over-exploitation and unequal access.
* Agricultural practices are the largest consumers of water.
* Increased industrial activities compound water scarcity issues.
* Urban centers frequently deplete local groundwater resources.
* The hydrological cycle keeps water renewable, but management is crucial.
* Significant global population growth demands more water.

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## Practice Questions

### Short Answer Questions
1. What is the hydrological cycle?
2. Why is only a small proportion of water usable as freshwater?
3. What factors contribute to water scarcity in various regions?
4. How does urbanization affect water resources?
5. Why is irrigated agriculture termed as the largest consumer of water?

### Long Answer Questions
1. Discuss the implications of over-exploitation of water resources due to agriculture and industry.
2. Analyze the potential consequences of predicted water scarcity by 2025.
3. Explain the relationship between population growth and water demand, providing examples from the text.

---

## Source Attribution

| Field | Value |
| :--- | :--- |
| Source | Edzy |
| Reference Type | examSubjectBookChapter |
| Reference ID | 66cef150e9dce5550f8f8ed7 |
| Canonical URL | https://www.edzy.ai/cbse-class-10-social-science-contemporary-india-water-resources |
| Markdown URL | https://www.edzy.ai/okf/chapter/cbse-class-10-social-science-contemporary-india-water-resources.md |