UPSC Prelims 2021·GS1·geography·climatology

With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements : 1. The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater. 2. The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of groundwater. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Last updated 23 May 2026, 3:31 pm IST
  1. A1 only
  2. B2 onlyCorrect
  3. CBoth 1 and 2
  4. DNeither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The amount of groundwater on Earth is significantly larger than the combined amount of water in rivers and lakes. While rivers and lakes are visible freshwater sources, groundwater constitutes a much larger reservoir of accessible freshwater. Globally, groundwater accounts for approximately 30.1% of all freshwater, whereas rivers account for a mere 0.006% and lakes about 0.26% of total freshwater. Statement 2 is correct: Polar ice caps and glaciers hold the vast majority of Earth's freshwater. Approximately 68.7% of all freshwater on Earth is locked up in glaciers and ice caps. This amount is indeed more than the amount of groundwater, which is about 30.1% of freshwater.
geography: With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements : 1. The amount of water in the river
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