Water Sources and Water Conservation: REET EVS Notes
This page covers sources of water, the water cycle, and Rajasthan's traditional water-conservation structures (johad, tanka, khadin, nadi, baori) from a REET exam angle. REET 2024 asked Rajasthan-specific questions on this very topic, so remembering local examples pays off especially well.
- 2 questions in REET 2024
- Class 1-5 level
- 8 min read
How this topic is asked in REET
Both questions REET 2024 asked from this topic were rooted in Rajasthan-specific facts — one on identifying a historic water structure like the Chand Baori at Abhaneri (Dausa), and the other on telling traditional irrigation devices (mot, dhekli, rahat) apart from modern drip irrigation. In other words, the water topic in EVS is asked from pure science (sources of water, the water cycle) as well as from Rajasthan's local water culture — at the class 1-5 level it's essential to anchor the basic concepts to local examples.
Sources of water and the water cycle
Water on Earth occurs mainly in two forms — surface water and underground (groundwater) water. Rivers, lakes, ponds, seas and dams are sources of surface water, while wells, handpumps and tube-wells are sources of groundwater. Rainwater is the original source of both — it seeps down to form groundwater and flows to fill rivers and ponds.
The water cycle is a continuous process in which the sun's heat turns water from the sea, rivers and ponds into vapour (evaporation), which condenses into clouds in the cooler air above (condensation), and then falls back to earth as rain. Class 3-5 children can grasp this cycle easily by watching water heated in a vessel turn to steam and form droplets on the lid.
Rajasthan's traditional water structures
| Structure | Form | Main use |
|---|---|---|
| Johad | A small pond that checks flowing rainwater | Raises the groundwater level; supplies water for livestock and fields |
| Tanka / Kund | An underground tank built in a home or courtyard | Collects roof rainwater and keeps it safe for drinking |
| Khadin | A catchment made with an earthen embankment on sloping land | Traps rainwater to keep farmland moist (western Rajasthan) |
| Nadi | A shallow pond built on sandy plains | Collects rainwater for a village's drinking and household use |
| Baori | A deep stepwell | Steps give access to groundwater for drinking and irrigation |
Source: India Water Portal[Source 2]
Chand Baori, Abhaneri
One of Rajasthan's most famous stepwells, the Chand Baori, stands in the village of Abhaneri in Dausa district. Historians generally credit it to King Chanda of the Nikumbha dynasty, built around the 8th-9th century CE (though no inscription confirms the exact date or ruler — this dating rests on similarities in architectural style). It is roughly 100 feet deep, about 13 storeys, with a huge number of steps arranged in a geometric pattern, which makes it one of India's deepest and largest stepwells — this was exactly the fact REET 2024 asked about. Such stepwells were usually built near temple complexes so that cool, clean water stayed available through summer.
A few more facts about these water structures
- Steps of the Chand Baori
- About 3,500 steps, descending roughly 13 storeys[Source 1]
- Usefulness of a nadi
- In sandy districts like Nagaur and Barmer, a single filling can supply water for about 7-10 months[Source 2]
- Where a baori was built
- Often near a temple, so the water stayed unsalted and scientifically pure[Source 2]
Traditional irrigation devices versus modern irrigation
In earlier times, farmers used devices like the mot (a leather bucket hauled up with the help of bullocks), the dhekli (a lever-based device) and the rahat (a rotating wheel fitted with water pots) to lift water from wells and reservoirs and carry it to their fields. Today, modern methods such as drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation save water while delivering it straight to the roots of plants — REET often asks a question that tests whether you can tell these two groups apart.
Simple water-saving habits can be adopted in every home and school — turning off the tap right after use, fixing a leaking tap immediately, storing roof rainwater in a tanka or tank, watering plants with water left over from washing clothes or utensils, and switching to drip irrigation in the fields. Rajasthan receives less rainfall on average than most of the rest of the country, so saving every drop matters here in particular — which is exactly why its centuries-old traditional water culture still has lessons to teach today.
How to teach children
Classroom activity
Take children to see the water sources near the school (handpump, well, tank) and ask them where the water is coming from — this makes the difference between surface water and groundwater land through direct experience.
Teaching aids
Show the water cycle by heating water in a transparent vessel and letting children watch droplets form on the lid, or put up simple chart drawings of a johad, baori and tanka in class.
Common misconceptions
Children often think tap water is unlimited and don't connect it to any source; the teacher should point out that tap water too comes from a river, a dam or groundwater, and is a limited resource.
Assessment idea
Have children draw the water source used at their home and write one sentence about how they save water, then ask them the following week whether they actually kept up that habit, so the learning turns into behaviour.
Memory trick / exam tip
Remember structures by what they 'hold back' — a tanka holds a rooftop's rainwater in a tank (for drinking), a khadin holds a sloping field's rainwater behind an embankment (for farming), and a baori/johad/nadi is a pond or well dug into the ground, from which water is drawn using steps or a rope.
Questions asked in REET 2024 (with solutions)
Question 137
It is one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India
- Aतुरजी का झालरा
- Bआभानेरी की चाँद बावड़ी
- Cभंडारों की बड़ी बावड़ी
- Dपन्ना मीना की बावड़ी
Explanation
दौसा जिले के आभानेरी गाँव की चाँद बावड़ी भारत की सबसे गहरी और बड़ी बावड़ियों में से एक मानी जाती है। इसका निर्माण निकुम्भ वंश के राजा चाँद (चन्द्र) के समय माना जाता है और इसमें अनेक मंजिलों तक सीढ़ियाँ बनी हैं।
Question 139
Which is not a traditional method of diverting water to fields from wells, lakes and canals ?
- Aमोट
- Bढेकली
- Cरहट
- Dड्रिप तंत्र
Explanation
मोट (चरस), ढेकली और रहट कुओं व जलाशयों से पानी निकालकर खेतों तक पहुँचाने की पारम्परिक विधियाँ हैं। ड्रिप (टपक) सिंचाई तंत्र एक आधुनिक सिंचाई विधि है जिसमें पाइपों द्वारा बूँद-बूँद पानी पौधों की जड़ों तक पहुँचाया जाता है, इसलिए यह पारम्परिक तरीका नहीं है।
Practice Questions
Question 1
What is the traditional Rajasthani underground tank structure used to store rainwater for drinking called?
- Aजोहड़
- Bटांका
- Cखड़ीन
- Dबावड़ी
Explanation
A tanka (kund) is an underground tank built in a home or courtyard, where roof rainwater is collected and kept safe for drinking. A johad raises the groundwater level, a khadin serves farming, and a baori is a stepwell.
Question 2
Which of the following is an underground source of water?
- Aनदी
- Bझील
- Cकुआं
- Dतालाब
Explanation
A well is a means of reaching groundwater, while a river, lake and pond are all sources of surface water.
Question 3
The traditional western Rajasthani method of building earthen embankments on sloped fields to hold back rainwater and make the land fit for farming is called -
- Aनाड़ी
- Bखड़ीन
- Cबावड़ी
- Dरहट
Explanation
In a khadin, an earthen embankment on sloping land checks rainwater, keeping the field moist. A nadi is a drinking-water pond, a baori is a stepwell, and a rahat is an irrigation device.
Question 4
The famous stepwell located in Abhaneri village, Dausa district, is -
- Aतुरजी का झालरा
- Bपन्ना मीना की बावड़ी
- Cचाँद बावड़ी
- Dराजा की बावड़ी
Explanation
The Chand Baori stands in the village of Abhaneri in Dausa district and is counted among India's deepest and largest stepwells. The other options are stepwells located elsewhere.
Question 5
The most suitable activity to explain the water cycle to Class 3 children is -
- Aजल चक्र की परिभाषा रटवाना
- Bगर्म पानी के बर्तन को ढक्कन से ढककर भाप का जमना दिखाना
- Cकेवल पाठ्यपुस्तक पढ़ाना
- Dबिना उदाहरण के बोर्ड पर आरेख बनाना
Explanation
A hands-on demonstration — heating water in a covered vessel and showing steam condense into droplets on the lid — lets children experience evaporation and condensation directly, which works better than rote learning.
Question 6
Rahat, Dhekli and Mot are traditional methods used for what purpose?
- Aवर्षा मापने के लिए
- Bकुओं से पानी निकालकर खेतों तक पहुँचाने के लिए
- Cजल शुद्ध करने के लिए
- Dवर्षा जल संग्रहण के लिए
Explanation
Rahat, dhekli and mot are traditional devices used to lift water from wells and reservoirs and carry it to fields for irrigation.
Question 7
Which of the following is a modern irrigation method in which water is delivered drop by drop to the roots of plants?
- Aरहट
- Bढेकली
- Cड्रिप (टपक) सिंचाई
- Dमोट
Explanation
Drip irrigation delivers water drop by drop straight to the roots of plants through pipes, saving water. The other three are all traditional devices.
Question 8
In the sandy plain regions of Rajasthan such as Nagaur and Barmer, the traditional shallow pond that collects rainwater is called -
- Aखड़ीन
- Bनाड़ी
- Cटांका
- Dजोहड़
Explanation
A nadi is a shallow traditional pond built on sandy plains that collects rainwater and supplies a village's drinking and household needs for several months. A tanka is an underground tank in a home, and a khadin serves farmland.
Question 9
What can a teacher first get children to do in order to build the habit of saving water?
- Aबच्चों को केवल किताब से जल संरक्षण के नियम याद करवाएं
- Bबच्चों को टपकते नल की सूचना देने व स्कूल में नल जाँचने का जिम्मा सौंपे
- Cजल संरक्षण पर कोई चर्चा न करें
- Dबच्चों को केवल परीक्षा में निबंध लिखने को कहें
Explanation
A practical, responsibility-based activity — reporting a leaking tap and being given charge of checking the school's taps — builds the habit of saving water in an active way, while rote rules or essay-writing alone are far less effective.
Question 10
Which of the following is NOT an example of surface water?
- Aनदी
- Bतालाब
- Cहैंडपंप
- Dझील
Explanation
A handpump is a means of drawing groundwater, while a river, pond and lake are all examples of surface water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Rajasthan's traditional methods of water conservation?+
Johad, tanka/kund, khadin, nadi and baori are Rajasthan's main traditional water structures, each collecting rainwater in a different way.
How many questions come from the water topic in REET?+
REET 2024 had 2 questions from this EVS topic; it pays to remember Rajasthan-related facts.
What is the water cycle?+
The continuous process of evaporation, condensation and rainfall through which water returns from the sea and rivers, via clouds, back to the earth, is called the water cycle.
What's the difference between a baori and a johad?+
A baori is a deep stepwell reached by going down a flight of steps, while a johad is an open, small pond that checks flowing rainwater.
How deep does the class 1-5 EVS syllabus go into the water topic?+
At this level, children learn the basic sources of water, an elementary understanding of the water cycle, and habits for saving water; Rajasthan's local water structures are added in as interesting examples.
Among mot, dhekli and rahat, which one isn't traditional?+
All three — mot, dhekli and rahat — are traditional. Drip irrigation, by contrast, is a modern method that REET often offers as a contrasting option.
Read next
Official Sources
Change Log
- 17 September 2026 — English page published — mirrors the fact-checked Hindi page, independently bilingual-accuracy checked