Water Resources — Class 10 MCQs with Answers
Class 10 CBSE Geography · Chapter 3
70 practice questions · 23 Easy · 26 Medium · 21 Hard · Updated
Jump to the 6 solved questions
Practise the most important Class 10 CBSE Geography questions from Chapter 3, "Water Resources". You get 7 timed quizzes made from 70 NCERT-based MCQs, with answers and explanations. The questions are split into 23 Easy, 26 Medium and 21 Hard. Warm up on the basics, then move on to the exam-level questions that top scorers in CBSE Board exams get right.
To score well in "Water Resources", focus on dates, cause and effect, and reading maps and sources. Each MCQ here is timed and uses exam-style marking (+4 correct, −1 wrong, 0 skipped). This helps you stay accurate when time is short, just as real papers need. Every question has a short explanation, so a wrong answer becomes a quick lesson. It is the fastest way to fix gaps before a test.
Use this chapter for focused revision. Start with the Easy set to check your basics on Water Resources, then move to Medium and Hard to practise applying them. Your accuracy, streaks and XP save automatically. This chapter also adds to your overall Class 10 Geography mastery score. Try the 6 sample questions below: tap an option to see the answer and a worked explanation. Sign in free to start practising.
Water Resources — important questions & MCQs with answers (Class 10 Geography)
6 solved questions from this chapter's difficulty levels, each with its answer and explanation. Tap an option to check yourself.
0 of 6 answered
- Q1 of 6Easy
According to the chapter, the moment we speak of water shortages, we immediately associate them with:
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Answer: regions with low rainfall or those that are drought prone
Explanation: The chapter says that the moment we speak of water shortages, we immediately associate it with regions having low rainfall or those that are drought prone.
- Q2 of 6Easy
Bhakra-Nangal dam is on river:
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Answer: Sutlej
Explanation: The chapter says the Bhakra–Nangal project is in the Sutlej–Beas river basin; none of the other rivers listed is linked to it.
- Q3 of 6Medium
Which of the following is NOT a primary objective of a multipurpose river valley project?
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Answer: Promotion of large-scale deforestation
Explanation: Multipurpose projects aim at irrigation, power, flood control and navigation, not deforestation.
- Q4 of 6Medium
How have villagers in Gendathur, a remote backward village in Mysuru, Karnataka, met their water needs?
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Answer: By installing rooftop rainwater harvesting systems in their homes
Explanation: Nearly 200 households in Gendathur have installed rooftop rainwater harvesting systems to meet their water needs, and the village has earned the rare distinction of being rich in rainwater.
- Q5 of 6Hard
Consider the following statements about water scarcity: I. A large population requires more water not only for domestic use but also to produce more food. II. Over exploitation and mismanagement of water resources will impoverish this resource and cause ecological crisis. III. The availability of water resources is the same in all places and at all times. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Answer: I and II only
Explanation: Statements I and II are in the chapter. III is wrong: the availability of water resources varies over space and time, mainly due to the variations in seasonal and annual precipitation.
- Q6 of 6Hard
Assertion (A): Some dams that were constructed to control floods have, ironically, triggered floods. Reason (R): Sedimentation takes place in the reservoirs of these dams.
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Answer: Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: The chapter says the dams that were constructed to control floods have triggered floods due to sedimentation in the reservoir, so R correctly explains A.
Water Resources notes: key concepts (Class 10 Geography)
Examines why water is scarce despite being renewable, and how India manages it. Covers multipurpose projects like Bhakra-Nangal (Sutlej) and Hirakud (Mahanadi)—Nehru's 'temples of modern India'—their criticisms and the Narmada Bachao Andolan, plus rainwater harvesting: tankas, khadins, johads, bamboo drip irrigation and guls.
| Project | River | What its water does |
|---|---|---|
| Bhakra–Nangal | Sutlej (Sutlej–Beas basin) | Hydel power and irrigation |
| Hirakud | Mahanadi | Water conservation with flood control |
| Sardar Sarovar | Narmada (Gujarat) | Water for drought-prone areas across four states |
- 1Damming regulates the river and changes its natural flow
- 2Sediment flow downstream is poor; sediment piles up in the reservoir
- 3Flood plains are deprived of silt, a natural fertiliser
- 4Land degradation on the flood plains gets worse
| Method | Where | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Guls and kuls | Western Himalayas | Diversion channels taking stream water to fields |
| Inundation channels | Flood plains of Bengal | Irrigating fields |
| Khadins and johads | Rajasthan (khadins in Jaisalmer) | Storing rainwater for agriculture |
| Tankas | Western Rajasthan (Bikaner, Phalodi, Barmer) | Storing rooftop rainwater for drinking |
| Bamboo drip irrigation | Meghalaya | A 200-year-old system piping stream and spring water to plantations |
| Rooftop harvesting | Shillong; Gendathur (Karnataka) | Households collect roof rainwater and recharge wells |
- 1Rooftop rainwater is collected through a PVC pipe
- 2It is filtered through sand and bricks
- 3An underground pipe takes it to a sump for immediate use
- 4Excess water from the sump goes to the well
- 5The well recharges the underground water
- Freshwater Scarcity
- Three-fourths of the earth's surface is water, but only a small proportion is usable freshwater, renewed by the hydrological cycle; over-use and unequal access cause scarcity.
- Causes of Water Scarcity
- Growing population, over-irrigation, industry, urbanisation and pollution; scarcity can occur even where water is plentiful but polluted.
- Multipurpose River Project
- A large dam serving many purposes at once—irrigation, hydroelectricity, flood control, water supply, navigation and fisheries.
- Bhakra–Nangal Project
- Built on the Sutlej river; a major multipurpose project supplying irrigation and hydel power to Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.
- Hirakud Project
- Built on the Mahanadi river in Odisha; one of the world's longest dams, used mainly for irrigation and flood control.
- 'Temples of Modern India'
- Jawaharlal Nehru's phrase for big dams, seen after independence as symbols of progress that would develop the whole economy.
- Criticism of Dams
- Large dams displace people, submerge forests, harm aquatic life, can trigger earthquakes and, by regulating flow, may even induce floods.
- Narmada Bachao Andolan
- A movement opposing large dams on the Narmada (like Sardar Sarovar) over the displacement of tribals and villagers without proper rehabilitation.
- Rainwater Harvesting
- Traditional and modern methods of collecting and storing rainwater to recharge groundwater and meet local water needs.
- Tanka
- In arid western Rajasthan, an underground tank built inside houses to store rooftop-collected rainwater for drinking through the dry season.
- Khadins and Johads
- Traditional rainwater-harvesting structures of Rajasthan that store water and let it recharge the soil for agriculture.
- Bamboo Drip Irrigation
- A roughly 200-year-old practice of Meghalaya that channels stream and spring water through bamboo pipes to irrigate plantations.
- Guls and Kuls
- Diversion channels of the western Himalayas that carry water from streams to fields for irrigation in the hill regions.
- Rooftop Harvesting
- In Gendathur (Karnataka) and Shillong, households recharge wells from rooftop rainwater; roof area × rainfall gives the water collected.
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Water Resources — FAQs
What are the key concepts in Class 10 Geography Water Resources?+
Examines why water is scarce despite being renewable, and how India manages it. Covers multipurpose projects like Bhakra-Nangal (Sutlej) and Hirakud (Mahanadi)—Nehru's 'temples of modern India'—their criticisms and the Narmada Bachao Andolan, plus rainwater harvesting: tankas, khadins, johads, bamboo drip irrigation and guls. Key ideas include Freshwater Scarcity, Causes of Water Scarcity, Multipurpose River Project, Bhakra–Nangal Project, Hirakud Project, 'Temples of Modern India'.
What does Class 10 Geography Chapter 3 (Water Resources) cover on XamBaaz?+
It has 70 NCERT-based MCQs on "Water Resources": 23 Easy, 26 Medium and 21 Hard. Together they make 7 timed quizzes, and you never get the same set twice. Every question has an instant explanation. They help you prepare for CBSE Board exams.
Are these "Water Resources" questions free to practise?+
Yes. Sign in with Google to practise "Water Resources" free. Full unlimited access is ₹999/year. One year from the day you pay. You stay in Class 10 till 31 March; on 1 April your account moves up to Class 11 and the rest of your year carries over. No chapter is charged separately.
How should I revise "Water Resources" for the exam?+
Start with the Easy quiz to check your basics, then try Medium and Hard to practise applying them. There are 7 timed quizzes on this chapter, so you can come back for a fresh set instead of one you have seen. Read each explanation, retry the questions you miss, and track your accuracy until it stays high.
Are these "Water Resources" MCQs available with answers?+
Yes. 6 sample questions are on this page with answers: tap an option, or "Show answer", to see the correct option and a step-by-step explanation. Sign in free with Google to start practising, with instant scoring.
Is there negative marking in the "Water Resources" quizzes?+
Yes. The timed quizzes use exam-style marking: +4 for a right answer, −1 for a wrong one and 0 for a skip. MHT-CET and CBSE board papers have no negative marking. Our mocks for those are scored their way.
What are the important questions from Water Resources (Class 10 Geography)?+
The questions that matter most test Freshwater Scarcity, Causes of Water Scarcity, Multipurpose River Project, Bhakra–Nangal Project, Hirakud Project, 'Temples of Modern India'. This page shows 6 solved important MCQs with answers and explanations. Sign in to practise all 70 questions on the chapter as timed quizzes.
Is there an online quiz for Water Resources?+
Yes — Class 10 Geography Water Resources has timed online quizzes at Easy, Medium and Hard levels, with instant scoring and a worked explanation on every question. The first quiz on the chapter is free.
Are there question answers and extra questions for Water Resources (Class 10 Geography)?+
Yes. This page has 6 solved questions on Water Resources, each with the correct answer and a short explanation. Sign in to practise all 70 questions on the chapter as timed quizzes.
Are there assertion–reason and case study questions for Water Resources (Class 10 Geography)?+
Yes. The Water Resources question bank has 6 assertion–reason questions and 3 case-based (case study) questions in the CBSE board format, alongside the regular MCQs. Each comes with the answer and a worked explanation. Sign in to practise them in timed quizzes.