Loading...
What are the major challenges faced by Indian irrigation system in recent times? State the measures taken by the government for efficient irrigation management.
Paper
GS-III
Question
Q13
Marks
15M
Word Limit
250W
Practice Answer Writing
Word limit: 250 wordsMarks: 15MSuggested time: 12 min
Model answer will be available after you finish writing.
Model Answer
Model Answer
Source: Civils Daily · CivilsDaily Editorial
338 wordsHas diagram
Irrigation is critical to Indian agriculture, which accounts for80%of the country’s freshwater consumption. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, about52% of India’s net sown area is irrigated, but inefficiencies in the system have hampered agricultural productivity.
## Major challenges faced by Indian irrigation system in recent times:
- Groundwater exploitation:According toCGWA,India extracts nearly25% of global groundwaterannually.Punjab and Haryanagroundwater tablesdeplete by 33%in the last two decades.
- - Inefficient Water Use:Due toelectricity subsidiesand Traditional methods likefloodirrigation, still usedin 85%of irrigated areas.
- Poor Infrastructure:Canal systems, which cover around40%of irrigated land, suffer from leakages and evaporation losses, leading to about30-40%wastage (Central Water Commission).
- Unequal Distribution:Punjab, with 98% irrigation coverage, contrasts with underdeveloped infrastructure in eastern and southern states. (NITI Aayog).
- Low Adoption of Modern Techniques:As per ICAR, only 6%of India’s irrigated land uses drip or sprinkler systems, mainly due to high initial costs and lack of awareness.
## Measures taken by the government for efficient irrigation management:
- National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA):to promote sustainable agriculture practices, enhance water use efficiency,and encourage adoption of new irrigation technologies.
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY):aims to improve irrigation coverage, enhance water efficiency, and promote modern irrigation techniquessuch as drip and sprinkler systems.
- Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM):Improves irrigation efficiency by repairing and upgrading canal systems across 17 million hectares (CWC).
- Atal Bhujal Yojana:With abudget of ₹6,000 crores,this schemefocuses on sustainable groundwater management in stressed regions, aiming to reduce over-extraction in 78 districts.
- Jal Shakti Abhiyan:A water conservationcampaign targeting 256 water-stressed districts,focusing onrainwater harvesting and recharging groundwater (NITI Aayog).
## State Led initiatives:
- Mission Kakatiya(Telangana)-for rejuvenation of tanks and micro-irrigation sources.
- Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan(Maharashtra)-promotes water conservation and management by constructing farm ponds, percolation tanks, and check dams.
- Krishi Bhagya(Karnataka)-promotes the adoption of micro-irrigation systems, rainwater harvesting, etc.
Therefore, as recommended by theAshok Dalwai Panel,a substantial investment inmodern irrigation infrastructure,including drip and sprinkler systems, and the need torevisit water pricing policiesto increase water-use efficiency and agricultural productivity.
Click to Access Full Notes
Diagrams & Charts
Original source: Civils Daily
About This Question
Paper
GS Paper III — Economy, Science & Technology, Environment
Subject
EconomicsSubtopic
Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country; different types of irrigation and irrigation systems
Difficulty
Medium
Related Questions
S
A
R
Students Also Practiced
Questions frequently practiced alongside this one by UPSC aspirants
2025GS-III Q16
India aims to become a semiconductor manufacturing hub. What are the challenges faced by the semiconductor industry in India? Mention the salient features of the India Semiconductor Mission.
2025GS-III Q20
Why is maritime security vital to protect India’s sea trade? Discuss maritime and coastal security challenges and the way forward.
2024GS-III Q17Answer Available
What is disaster resilience? How is it determined? Describe various elements of a resilience framework. Also mention the global targets of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030).
2024GS-III Q18Answer Available
Flooding in urban areas is an emerging climate-induced disaster. Discuss the causes of this disaster. Mention the features of two such major floods in the last two decades in India. Describe the policies and frameworks in India that aim at tackling such floods.
2024GS-III Q19Answer Available
India has a long and troubled border with China and Pakistan fraught with contentious issues. Examine the conflicting issues and security challenges along the border. Also give out the development being undertaken in these areas under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP) and Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM) Scheme.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UPSC Mains 2024 GS-III Question 13 about?▼
This question is from the Economics topic under GS-III (2024). It carries 15 marks with a 250-word limit. Difficulty: Medium.
Is there a model answer available for this question?▼
Yes, a 338-word model answer is available from Civils Daily by CivilsDaily Editorial.
How should I approach this medium-level UPSC Mains question?▼
For a 15-mark question with 250-word limit, structure your answer with a brief introduction, 2-3 main body points with evidence, and a forward-looking conclusion.