Source: PIB
Context
The PIB clarified the structure and implementation of PMKSY, an umbrella irrigation scheme — including its components, implementing ministries, funding pattern, and the absence of any specific provision for private-sector investment.
About PMKSY
What It Is
- India’s flagship umbrella scheme for irrigation development, launched 1 July 2015.
- A Centrally Sponsored Scheme (Core Scheme).
- Mottos: “Har Khet Ko Pani” (water to every field) and “Per Drop More Crop”.
- Aims: enhance physical access to water on farms; expand cultivable area under assured irrigation; improve water use efficiency; promote sustainable water conservation; achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at field level.
Components & Implementing Ministries
| Component | Implementing Body |
|---|---|
| Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) | Dept. of Water Resources, RD & GR — Ministry of Jal Shakti |
| Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) | Dept. of Water Resources, RD & GR — Ministry of Jal Shakti |
| Watershed Development Component (WDC) | Dept. of Land Resources — Ministry of Rural Development |
| Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) | Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (now largely under RKVY) |
- AIBP: Fast-tracks completion of ongoing major and medium irrigation projects, including National Projects.
- HKKP: Creates new water sources via minor irrigation (surface + ground water); includes sub-components — CAD&WM, Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI), Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) of water bodies, Ground Water Development.
- WDC: Watershed development in rainfed areas (subsumed the erstwhile Integrated Watershed Management Programme, IWMP).
Schemes Subsumed at Launch
- AIBP (Ministry of Water Resources) + IWMP (Dept. of Land Resources) + On Farm Water Management (OFWM) (Dept. of Agriculture & Cooperation).
Implementation & Funding
- Central Assistance is provided to States for creation of irrigation potential, command area development, and on-farm development.
- Projects are generally implemented by State Governments through competitive tendering; private contractors may participate as per State procurement rules.
- Works executed as per State norms.
- The scheme contains no specific provision for private-sector investment.
- Capacity building and training on efficient water management is undertaken by States/UTs under scheme guidelines — but consolidated State-wise data on farmers/field workers trained is NOT maintained centrally.
Verified Financial & Structural Details
- Funding pattern: Centre–State 75:25; 90:10 for North-Eastern and Hilly States.
- Outlay: initial ₹50,000 crore (2015-16 to 2019-20); extended 2021-22 to 2025-26 with an outlay of ~₹93,068 crore, including ₹37,454 crore central assistance.
- 90% grant to two National Projects — Renukaji (Himachal Pradesh) and Lakhwar (Uttarakhand) — critical for Delhi’s water supply and Yamuna rejuvenation.
- M-CADWM (Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management) approved in 2025-26 as a sub-scheme of PMKSY-AIBP (initial outlay ₹1,600 crore) — delivers water via pressurised piped and micro-irrigation systems.
Exam Relevance
- UPSC Prelims: PMKSY launched 2015, CSS, funding 75:25 / 90:10; AIBP & HKKP under Ministry of Jal Shakti, WDC under Ministry of Rural Development, PDMC under Agriculture; NSC chaired by PM, NEC by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman; Renukaji & Lakhwar national projects; M-CADWM (2025-26).
- NABARD Grade A/B: Extremely high relevance — core ARD topic: PMKSY components and ministries, watershed development, micro-irrigation, CAD, RRR, funding pattern; near-certain question area. (Also note NABARD administers the Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF) for AIBP projects.)
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), consider the following statements:
- It was launched in 2015 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
- The Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme and Har Khet Ko Pani components are implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- The Watershed Development Component is implemented by the Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development.
- The scheme is implemented solely by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
Q2. With reference to the implementation of PMKSY, consider the following statements:
- Central assistance is provided to States for creation of irrigation potential and command area development.
- Projects are generally implemented by State Governments through competitive tendering as per State procurement rules.
- The Centre–State funding pattern is 75:25 for general States and 90:10 for North-Eastern and Hilly States.
- The scheme contains a dedicated provision mandating private sector investment in irrigation projects.
How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
Answer Key
- (c) — Statement 4 wrong: PMKSY spans three ministries, not the Agriculture Ministry alone.
- (c) — Statement 4 wrong: no specific provision for private sector investment exists.
