Inter-State River Water Disputes in India 2026 – Important Current Affairs MCQs with Answers & Explanations
Inter-State River Water Disputes in India 2026 – Important Current Affairs MCQs
Inter-State River Water Disputes are an important topic for UPSC, State PSC, SSC and other competitive examinations. Recently, the Central Government decided to constitute a High-Level Committee to resolve water-sharing problems among Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka across the Tungabhadra River.
The following MCQs cover the Tungabhadra River dispute, constitutional provisions, Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, River Boards Act, role of the Supreme Court, important water dispute cases, challenges and possible reforms.
POINT TO REMEMBER:-
Q1) The Central Government decided to constitute a High-Level Committee to resolve water-sharing problems across the Tungabhadra River among which states?
A) Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala
B) Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
C) Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa
D) Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Telangana
Answer:=> B) Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
Explanation: The Central Government decided to constitute a High-Level Committee to resolve water-sharing problems between Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka across the Tungabhadra River.
Q2) The Upper Bhadra Project, which has been associated with an inter-state water dispute, is located in which state?
A) Telangana
B) Andhra Pradesh
C) Karnataka
D) Tamil Nadu
Answer:=> C) Karnataka
Explanation: The Upper Bhadra Project is located upstream of the Tungabhadra Dam in Karnataka. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have raised objections regarding water impoundment affecting supplies to downstream canals.
Q3) The Tungabhadra Board regulates water supplies in accordance with the order of which tribunal?
A) Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal
B) Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal
C) Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal
D) Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal
Answer:=> B) Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal
Explanation: The Tungabhadra Board oversees the project and regulates water supplies to the concerned states in accordance with the order of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal.
Q4) Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) is an interstate project associated with which two states?
A) Karnataka and Telangana
B) Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
C) Telangana and Maharashtra
D) Andhra Pradesh and Odisha
Answer:=> A) Karnataka and Telangana
Explanation: The Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme canal is an interstate project of Karnataka and Telangana located in Raichur district of Karnataka.
Q5) Telangana devised which of the following projects to offset water deficits under the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme?
A) Polavaram Project and Nagarjuna Sagar Project
B) Tummilla Lift Irrigation Scheme and expansion of Mallammakunta Reservoir
C) Upper Bhadra Project and Sunkesula Anicut
D) Kalasa and Banduri Nalas
Answer:=> B) Tummilla Lift Irrigation Scheme and expansion of Mallammakunta Reservoir
Explanation: Telangana devised the Tummilla Lift Irrigation Scheme and expansion of the Mallammakunta Reservoir to offset water deficits under RDS.
Q6) What is the ancient name of the Tungabhadra River?
A) Pampa
B) Vitasta
C) Vipasha
D) Asikni
Answer:=> A) Pampa
Explanation: The ancient name of the Tungabhadra River is Pampa.
Q7) The Tungabhadra River is formed by the confluence of which two rivers?
A) Krishna and Bhima
B) Tunga and Bhadra
C) Varada and Vedavathi
D) Kabini and Hemavati
Answer:=> B) Tunga and Bhadra
Explanation: Tungabhadra is formed by the confluence of the Tunga and Bhadra rivers at Shimoga in Karnataka. Both rivers rise in the Western Ghats.
Q8) Tungabhadra joins the Krishna River as a:
A) Left-bank tributary
B) Right-bank tributary
C) Distributary
D) Seasonal tributary
Answer:=> B) Right-bank tributary
Explanation: After flowing mainly through Karnataka and forming part of the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh boundary, Tungabhadra joins the Krishna as a right-bank tributary at Sangamaleshwaram in Andhra Pradesh.
Q9) Which of the following is correctly matched with the Tungabhadra River?
A) Varada – Right-bank tributary
B) Vedavathi – Left-bank tributary
C) Varada – Left-bank tributary
D) Periyar – Left-bank tributary
Answer:=> C) Varada – Left-bank tributary
Explanation: Varada is a left-bank tributary of the Tungabhadra, while Vedavathi is a right-bank tributary.
Q10) Which UNESCO World Heritage Site is associated with the Tungabhadra River?
A) Hampi
B) Ajanta
C) Sanchi
D) Konark
Answer:=> A) Hampi
Explanation: Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, is one of the major sites associated with the Tungabhadra River.
Q11) Under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, matters such as water supplies, irrigation, canals, drainage and water storage are primarily placed under:
A) Union List
B) State List
C) Concurrent List
D) Residuary Powers
Answer:=> B) State List
Explanation: Water supplies, irrigation, canals, drainage, embankments and water storage are under the State List, subject to the Union's power to regulate and develop interstate rivers and river valleys.
Q12) Which Article of the Constitution empowers Parliament to provide by law for the adjudication of disputes concerning inter-state waters?
A) Article 131
B) Article 136
C) Article 262
D) Article 263
Answer:=> C) Article 262
Explanation: Article 262 empowers Parliament to provide by law for adjudication of disputes concerning interstate waters. Parliament can also provide for exclusion of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and other courts in such disputes.
Q13) Parliament enacted which two laws by exercising its powers concerning inter-state river disputes?
A) ISRWD Act, 1956 and River Boards Act, 1956
B) Water Act, 1974 and Environment Protection Act, 1986
C) Dam Safety Act and Water Act
D) River Boards Act, 1956 and Forest Conservation Act
Answer:=> A) ISRWD Act, 1956 and River Boards Act, 1956
Explanation: Parliament enacted the Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956 and the River Boards Act, 1956 under its constitutional powers relating to inter-state water disputes.
Q14) What is the primary purpose of the Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956?
A) Creation of municipal water boards
B) Establishment of ad-hoc tribunals for resolving inter-state water conflicts
C) Regulation of groundwater extraction
D) Construction of dams by the Union Government
Answer:=> B) Establishment of ad-hoc tribunals for resolving inter-state water conflicts
Explanation: The ISRWD Act, 1956 provides for establishing ad-hoc tribunals when inter-state river water conflicts cannot be resolved through negotiations or when a state approaches for resolution.
Q15) The 2002 Amendment to the ISRWD Act mandated which of the following?
A) Tribunal within 6 months and award within 1 year
B) Tribunal within 1 year and award within 3 years
C) Tribunal within 2 years and award within 5 years
D) Tribunal within 3 years and award within 10 years
Answer:=> B) Tribunal within 1 year and award within 3 years
Explanation: The 2002 Amendment mandated a one-year time limit for setting up a tribunal and three years for delivering its award.
Q16) Consider the following statements regarding the River Boards Act, 1956:
1. It allows the Union Government to establish boards for integrated development of interstate river basins.
2. No river board has ever been constituted under the Act.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer:=> C) Both 1 and 2
Explanation: The River Boards Act, 1956 allows the Union to establish boards for integrated development of interstate basins. However, according to the provided material, no river board has ever been constituted under this Act.
Q17) The Supreme Court has intervened in procedural or constitutional aspects of inter-state water disputes using which Articles?
A) Articles 32 and 226
B) Articles 131 and 136
C) Articles 262 and 263 only
D) Articles 14 and 21
Answer:=> B) Articles 131 and 136
Explanation: Article 131 provides the Supreme Court original jurisdiction in disputes between states, while Article 136 relates to Special Leave Petitions.
Q18) In the Mullaperiyar Dam case, the Supreme Court clarified that:
A) Every dam-related issue is automatically an inter-state water dispute
B) Dam safety disputes are not strictly "water disputes" under the ISRWD Act
C) States cannot operate dams located in another state
D) Only Parliament can determine dam safety
Answer:=> B) Dam safety disputes are not strictly "water disputes" under the ISRWD Act
Explanation: The Supreme Court clarified that disputes concerning the safety of a dam, such as raising water levels, are not strictly "water disputes" under the ISRWD Act.
Q19) Mullaperiyar Dam is situated on which river and is operated by which state?
A) Periyar River – Tamil Nadu
B) Krishna River – Karnataka
C) Cauvery River – Kerala
D) Godavari River – Andhra Pradesh
Answer:=> A) Periyar River – Tamil Nadu
Explanation: Mullaperiyar Dam is situated on the Periyar River in Kerala, which has concerns over its safety, while the dam is operated by Tamil Nadu.
Q20) The ISRWD (Amendment) Bill, 2019 proposed which major institutional reform?
A) Abolition of all water tribunals
B) Creation of separate tribunals for every district
C) A Single Permanent Tribunal with multiple benches
D) Transfer of all water disputes directly to the Supreme Court
Answer:=> C) A Single Permanent Tribunal with multiple benches
Explanation: The ISRWD (Amendment) Bill, 2019 proposes replacing individual ad-hoc tribunals with a Single Permanent Tribunal having multiple benches to expedite dispute resolution. It also suggests a Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) for time-bound mediated agreements before adjudication.
