UPSC Mains 2023 GS1 Q5 — Water Resources
Why is the world today confronted with a crisis of availability of and access to freshwater resources? (Answer in 150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Why
- Scope keywords
- world todaycrisis of availabilityaccess tofreshwater resources
- Implicit sub-parts
- Distinction between physical scarcity (availability) vs. economic/political scarcity (access).
- Anthropogenic drivers like climate change and over-exploitation.
- Institutional and governance failures leading to inequitable distribution.
- Geopolitical and transboundary conflicts affecting regional water security.
- Common pitfalls
- Focusing only on India rather than maintaining a 'world today' global perspective.
- Conflating 'availability' and 'access' as the same thing; availability is about volume, access is about infrastructure and equity.
- Ignoring the impact of virtual water trade and industrial consumption in favor of only domestic usage.
- Failing to mention the paradox of the 'Global Water Crisis' occurring despite the hydrological cycle (focusing on quality/location rather than just quantity).
- Dimensions required
- Geographical/ClimaticSocio-EconomicTechnologicalGeopoliticalEnvironmental/Ecological
- Marks allocation hint
Spend 30 words on the 'Availability' crisis (climate change, pollution, groundwater depletion). Dedicate 60 words to the 'Access' crisis (poverty, privatization, lack of infrastructure, conflict). Reserve 40 words for the systemic global nature of the crisis and a way forward, with a brief 20-word introduction defining the current baseline.
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