UPSC Mains 2024 GS3 Q13: model answer
What are the major challenges faced by Indian irrigation system in recent times? State the measures taken by the government for efficient irrigation management.
What the question wants
Irrigation problems and government measures.
How to structure it
Intro: irrigation coverage. Body: (1) groundwater over-dependence; (2) incomplete canal projects and low efficiency; (3) climate and power issues; (4) government measures (PMKSY, AIBP, micro-irrigation, Atal Bhujal); (5) further steps. Conclusion: more crop per drop.
- 1(1) groundwater over-dependence
- 2(2) incomplete canal projects and low efficiency
- 3(3) climate and power issues
- 4(4) government measures (PMKSY, AIBP, micro-irrigation, Atal Bhujal)
- 5(5) further steps
Model answer
About 55% of India's net sown area is irrigated, and agriculture uses around 80% of fresh water.
Challenges
- Groundwater stress: it supplies over 60% of irrigation; Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan face over-extraction.
- Low efficiency: canal water use efficiency is only 35–40%; flood irrigation wastes water.
- Unfinished projects: cost and time overruns; gap between created and utilised potential.
- Free power encourages over-pumping and water-intensive crops like paddy in dry areas.
- Climate change: erratic monsoon, falling storage.
- Siltation and poor maintenance; weak water user associations.
Government measures
- PMKSY (2015): Har Khet Ko Pani, Per Drop More Crop, watershed development, AIBP.
- Micro-irrigation: drip and sprinkler with subsidy; Micro Irrigation Fund with NABARD.
- Atal Bhujal Yojana for community groundwater management in seven States.
- Command Area Development and participatory irrigation management.
- Solar pumps under PM-KUSUM; feeder separation.
- Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain; Amrit Sarovars.
- Interlinking of rivers: Ken-Betwa project.
Further steps: water pricing, crop diversification away from paddy in dry States, and measuring water use.
Moving from 'more water' to 'more crop per drop' is the key to irrigation security.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
PMKSY Atal Bhujal micro-irrigation PM-KUSUM Ken-Betwa
Where most answers lose marks
- Listing schemes without challenges.
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Question text as printed in the official UPSC question paper: https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/QP_CSM_2024_GenStud_III_03102024.pdf The model answer is original Battle IAS work; use it to learn structure, not to memorise.