Q1. [4]
RAINWATER HARVESTING
Many thought that given the disadvantages and rising resistance against the multi purpose projects, water harvesting system was a viable alternative, both socio-economically and environmentally. In ancient India, along with the sophisticated hydraulic structures, there existed an extraordinary tradition of water harvesting system. People had in-depth knowledge of rainfall regimes and soil types and developed wide ranging techniques to harvest rainwater, groundwater, river water and flood water in keeping with the local ecological conditions and their water needs. In hill and mountainous regions, people built diversion channels like the 'guls' or 'kuls' of the Western Himalayas for agriculture. 'Rooftop rainwater harvesting' was commonly practised to store drinking water, particularly in Rajasthan. In the flood plains of Bengal, people developed inundation channels to irrigate their fields. In arid and semi-arid regions, agricultural fields were converted into rain fed storage structures that allowed the water to stand and moisten the soil like the 'khadins' in Jaisalmer and 'Johads' in other parts of Rajasthan.
Read the given source and answer the questions that follow :
- (I) Why is water harvesting system a viable alternative ? [1]
- (II) Describe the process of 'rooftop rainwater harvesting.' [1]
- (III) Mention any two methods adopted by ancient India for water conservation. [2]
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2023 32/4/1 Q35
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:05 · grounding stimulus
Model Answer
(I) Water harvesting system is a viable alternative because it is beneficial both socio-economically and environmentally, overcoming the disadvantages and rising resistance associated with multipurpose projects.
(II) In rooftop rainwater harvesting, rainwater falling on rooftops is collected and stored for use as drinking water. It was commonly practised particularly in Rajasthan.
(III) Two methods adopted by ancient India for water conservation:
- Guls/Kuls — diversion channels built in hill and mountainous regions of the Western Himalayas for agriculture.
- Khadins and Johads — agricultural fields in arid/semi-arid regions were converted into rain-fed storage structures to allow water to stand and moisten the soil.
Source: Water Resources, Rainwater Harvesting section
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Explanation
- (I) is a direct 1-mark lift from the passage — just pick the exact reason given.
- (II) The passage does not detail the mechanical process; answer only what is stated — collecting rainwater on rooftops for drinking water storage, especially in Rajasthan.
- (III) For 2 marks, name two distinct methods with a brief description each. Guls/Kuls and Khadins/Johads are the clearest examples from the passage. Inundation channels of Bengal is also acceptable as an alternative point.
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