India's water demand is largely dominated by the needs of irrigation, which accounts for a significant portion of water usage. The agricultural sector in India is heavily reliant on irrigation for crop cultivation, especially during dry periods or in areas with unreliable rainfall.
Irrigation Demand:
Approximately 80% of India's total water usage is directed towards irrigation, reflecting the importance of agriculture in the economy. Major irrigation projects such as the Bhakra Nangal and the Indira Gandhi Canal have been developed to meet the high water demands of crop fields. In regions such as Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, irrigation is vital to ensure consistent agricultural output.
Role of Water for Agriculture:
In addition to irrigation, water is also crucial for livestock and domestic agriculture-related activities. India has a large number of water-intensive crops such as rice, sugarcane, and cotton, which require extensive irrigation. These crops are grown in regions that are highly dependent on water sources like rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
However, water use in India is increasingly becoming unsustainable due to over-extraction, inefficient water management practices, and an increasing demand for water across other sectors like industry and urbanization.
In conclusion, India's water demand is indeed heavily influenced by irrigation needs, but it is important to focus on sustainable water management and technological advancements to ensure the country's future water security.
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Hunting and Food Gathering
The earliest human beings depended on their immediate environment for their sustenance. They subsisted on: (a) animals which they hunted; and (b) the edible plants which they gathered from forests in the vicinity. Primitive societies depended on wild animals. People located in very cold and extremely hot climates survived on hunting. The people in the coastal areas still catch fish though fishing has experienced modernisation due to technological development. Many species, now have become extinct or endangered due to illegal hunting (poaching). The early hunters used primitive tools made of stones, twigs or arrows so the number of animals killed was limited. Gathering and hunting are the oldest economic activity known. These are carried out at different levels with different orientations. Gathering is practised in regions with harsh climatic conditions. It often involves primitive societies, who extract both plants and animals to satisfy their needs for food, shelter and clothing. This type of activity requires a small amount of capital investment and operates at very low levels of technology. The yield per person is very low and little or no surplus is produced.
