UPSC | Prelims GS | 2026

In an inter-State river dispute such as the Cauvery issue, the principle of equitable apportionment during a distress year implies that:

  1. The upper riparian State must always release the fixed normal-year quantity regardless of inflows.
  2. Available water may need to be shared proportionately among the concerned States, subject to the applicable legal framework.
  3. Only the lower riparian State bears the effects of rainfall deficiency.
  4. A court can permanently replace the inter-State water tribunal framework by executive order.

Answer

Correct Answer

Available water may need to be shared proportionately among the concerned States, subject to the applicable legal framework.

Explanation

Distress-year sharing

  • Option B is correct: equitable apportionment requires proportionate sharing when total availability falls.
  • Option A is wrong because a fixed normal-year release cannot ignore severe scarcity.
  • Option C is wrong because distress is not allocated exclusively to the lower riparian State.
  • Option D is wrong because adjudication must operate within constitutional and statutory arrangements.

Topics: cauvery distress-year water sharing, federalism, indian polity, inter-state river disputes