Do you think that what exists today will | Class 12 Geography Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 4 min read
Do you think that what exists today will – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of Do you think that what exists today will from Class 12 Geography, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
Surface Water Resources
Surface water in India primarily comes from rivers, lakes, ponds, and tanks. The country has about 10,360 rivers and their tributaries longer than 1.6 km each. The mean annual flow in all river basins is estimated at 1,869 cubic km. However, only about 690 cubic km (32%) of this surface water is utilizable due to topographical, hydrological, and other constraints. River water flow depends on the size of the catchment area and rainfall within it. Major rivers like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Indus have large catchment areas with high precipitation, accounting for 60% of the total surface water resources despite covering only one-third of the country's area. South Indian rivers such as the Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri have largely been harnessed for water use, but significant potential remains in the Brahmaputra and Ganga basins. The spatial and temporal variability of rainfall, mainly concentrated in the monsoon season, affects river flow and water availability.
📊 Diagram: Figure 4.1 shows the major river basins of India, highlighting their spatial extent and distribution of water resources.
🔗 Connection: This section sets the stage for understanding groundwater resources and their utilization in the next section.
Frequently asked questions
Find out which are the major towns/cities located on the bank of the Ganga and its tributaries and major industries they have.
To answer this question, students should research or refer to maps and data about the Ganga river basin. Major towns/cities on the banks of the Ganga and its tributaries include Varanasi, Kanpur, Allahabad (Prayagraj), Patna, Haridwar, and others. Major industries in these cities vary but include textiles, leather, chemicals, sugar, and manufacturing industries. For example, Kanpur is known for leather and textile industries, Varanasi for silk weaving, and Patna for agro-based industries. Studen
Observe the quantity of water used at your home in various activities and enlist the ways in which the water can be reused and recycled in various activities. Class teachers should organise a discussion on recycle and reuse of water.
Students should monitor daily water usage in activities such as bathing, washing utensils, cleaning, gardening, and vehicle washing. They should note the approximate quantity of water used in each activity. Then, they should identify ways to reuse water, for example, using bath water or washing water for gardening, using recycled water for cleaning or flushing toilets, and using reclaimed wastewater for industrial purposes like cooling. The discussion should focus on practical methods to reduce
1. Choose the right answers of the following from the given options. (i) Which one of the following types describes water as a resource? (a) Abiotic resource (b) Non-renewable Resources (c) Biotic Resource (d) Non-cyclic Resource (ii) Which one of the following south Indian states has the highest groundwater utilisation (in per cent) of its total ground water potential? (a) Tamil Nadu (b) Karnataka (c) Andhra Pradesh (d) Kerala (iii) The highest proportion of the total water used in the country is in which one of the following sectors? (a) Irrigation (c) Domestic use (b) Industries (d) None of the above
1(i) Water is described as an abiotic resource because it is a non-living natural resource. Hence, option (a) Abiotic resource is correct.
1(ii) Tamil Nadu has the highest groundwater utilisation in percentage of its total groundwater potential among South Indian states. Hence, option (a) Tamil Nadu is correct.
1(iii) The highest proportion of total water used in India is in the irrigation sector. Hence, option (a) Irrigation is correct.
2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words. (i) It is said that the water resources in India have been depleting very fast. Discuss the factors responsible for depletion of water resources? (ii) What factors are responsible for the highest groundwater development in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu? (iii) Why the share of agricultural sector in total water used in the country is expected to decline? (iv) What can be possible impacts of consumption of contaminated/unclean water on the people?
2(i) Factors responsible for depletion of water resources in India include over-extraction of groundwater, increasing population, urbanisation, industrialisation, and inefficient water management.
2(ii) The highest groundwater development in Punjab, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu is due to intensive agriculture, availability of canal irrigation, and favourable hydrogeological conditions.
2(iii) The share of agriculture in total water use is expected to decline due to improved irrigation efficiency, g
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Clear NCERT-aligned notes on computer hardware and the application software are referred as the Database for Class 12 Geography.
- computer hardware and the application software are referred as the Database | Class 12 Geography Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on computer hardware and the application software are referred as the Database for Class 12 Geography.
- computer hardware and the application software are referred as the Database | Class 12 Geography Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on computer hardware and the application software are referred as the Database for Class 12 Geography.