Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking water in some parts of India? 1). Arsenic 2). Sorbitol 3). Fluoride 4). Formaldehyde 5). Uranium Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

The answer is C (1, 3 and 5 only): arsenic, fluoride and uranium are all reported in groundwater in parts of India. The core concept is geogenic contamination, where minerals dissolved from aquifer rocks and sediments enter groundwater, unlike anthropogenic pollutants.

• Arsenic (1): Present in alluvial aquifers of the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin, notably West Bengal, Bihar, Assam and parts of UP. It is a known carcinogen.
• Fluoride (3): Excess fluoride causes dental and skeletal fluorosis in parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere.
• Uranium (5): Elevated levels have been reported in groundwater in parts of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Reports have been widely discussed since the 2010s, so the list of affected districts has grown over time.
• Sorbitol (2): A sugar alcohol used in food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. It is not a groundwater contaminant.
• Formaldehyde (4): An industrial chemical and preservative, not a natural groundwater constituent. Its presence is not a recognised regional issue in Indian drinking water.

For Mains (GS-3 Environment and GS-2 Health), this links to the National Water Quality Monitoring programme and the Jal Jeevan Mission's emphasis on safe drinking water.

Trap: Aspirants often drop uranium because it is rarely discussed, or they pick option D by assuming any chemical listed must be a contaminant.