Irrigation (Agriculture).
Syllabus: UPSC Pre GS1: Economic & Social Development; Mains GS3
A PIB backgrounder of 3 September 2026 reviews Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari, launched on 6 September 2024 to build low-cost groundwater recharge and storage structures with people's participation. JSJB 1.0 built over 27 lakh structures and JSJB 2.0 over 1.5 crore. In June 2026 it merged with Catch the Rain, and the total crossed 1.58 crore.
UPSC angle: Prelims: traditional water systems.
3 Sep 2026
A PIB backgrounder of 29 August 2026 says the Per Drop More Crop scheme has brought over 115 lakh hectares under micro-irrigation by July 2026, about 8.11 per cent of the net sown area. It funds drip and sprinkler systems, giving 55 per cent aid to small and marginal farmers and 45 per cent to others, now under PM-RKVY.
UPSC angle: Prelims: PDMC under PMKSY.
29 Aug 2026
Atal Bhujal Yojana, a community-led groundwater management scheme, ran as a pilot in 8,203 water-stressed gram panchayats of seven States from 1 April 2020 to 15 October 2025, the Jal Shakti Ministry told Lok Sabha on 30 July 2026. Assessments from 2023 to 2025 found groundwater levels improved in 180 of the 229 blocks covered.
UPSC angle: Prelims: Atal Bhujal States.
30 Jul 2026
The Kosi-Mechi Intra-State Link Project in Bihar has been included under PMKSY-AIBP for balance works of ₹6,143.22 crore, with central assistance of ₹3,652.56 crore, the Jal Shakti Ministry told Rajya Sabha on 27 July 2026. It is due by March 2029. Remodelling of the Eastern Kosi Main Canal has reached 8.5 per cent physical progress.
UPSC angle: Prelims: intra-State links.
27 Jul 2026
The National Rainfed Area Authority held a one-day national consultation at the NASC Complex, PUSA, New Delhi, on quality data generation and dissemination for rainfed-area projects. Research agencies presented datasets; States including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar flagged access bottlenecks.
UPSC angle: Prelims: NRAA.
8 Jul 2026
A PIB backgrounder of 9 May 2026 reviews the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, launched in 2014-15 under the National Action Plan on Climate Change. Rainfed Area Development has released ₹2,119.84 crore for 8.50 lakh hectares. Per Drop More Crop has covered about 109 lakh hectares. Over 25.79 crore Soil Health Cards have been generated.
UPSC angle: Prelims: NAPCC missions.
9 May 2026