Statement-I: According to the United Nations' World Water Development Report, 2022, India accounts for more than a quarter (over 25%) of the world's total groundwater withdrawal annually. This makes India the largest extractor of groundwater globally. Therefore, Statement-I is correct.
Statement-II: While India is home to approximately 18% of the world's population, the assertion that this population's drinking water and sanitation needs necessitate the extraction of over a quarter of global groundwater is incorrect. A significant majority of groundwater extracted in India, estimated to be around 90%, is utilized for agricultural irrigation purposes, not primarily for domestic drinking water and sanitation. Therefore, Statement-II is incorrect as it provides an inaccurate justification for the extent of groundwater withdrawal.
Options (A), (B), and (D) are incorrect because Statement-I is factually correct, while Statement-II provides an incorrect justification for India's extensive groundwater extraction. Statement-II inaccurately attributes the high withdrawal primarily to drinking water and sanitation needs, whereas irrigation is the dominant consumer.