Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
– Ensuring Water Security from Farm Gate to River Basin
Background – Why PMKSY?
Water is to agriculture what blood is to the body. India, with 82% of its water used in agriculture, still has nearly 50% of its net sown area rainfed.
🧠 The challenge is not scarcity, but inefficiency.
To address this, the government launched PMKSY in 2015—a comprehensive, inter-ministerial mission to ensure access to irrigation water, improve water use efficiency, and promote convergence of schemes.
Core Idea – “Har Khet Ko Pani + More Crop per Drop”
| 🔑 Slogan | Meaning |
| Har Khet Ko Pani | Ensure irrigation access to every farm |
| More Crop per Drop | Improve water productivity using modern techniques |
Quick Facts – At a Glance
| Feature | Details |
| 📜 Type | Centrally Sponsored Scheme |
| 🎯 Purpose | Expand irrigation coverage + efficient on-farm water use |
| 💰 Dedicated Funds | LTIF (Long-Term Irrigation Fund) and MIF (Micro-Irrigation Fund), managed by NABARD |
| 🧭 Monitoring | Central Water Commission + Ministry of Jal Shakti |
Objectives – The 360° Mission Goals
- 📍 Convergence of Irrigation Investment at field level
- 💧 On-farm water use efficiency to minimize water wastage
- 🚜 Adoption of water-saving technologies like drip/sprinklers
- 🌊 Aquifer recharge and reuse of treated wastewater
- 💼 Attract private investment in irrigation systems
Inter-Ministerial Convergence – Whole-of-Government Approach
PMKSY is implemented by multiple ministries, reflecting integrated rural development:
| Ministry | Component |
| 🛤️ Ministry of Jal Shakti | AIBP (On-Farm Water Management), Har Khet Ko Pani |
| 🌾 Ministry of Agriculture | Earlier managed Per Drop More Crop (Now shifted to RKVY-Cafeteria Model) |
| 🏞️ Ministry of Rural Development | Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) |
Components of PMKSY – 4 Pillars of the Scheme
1. Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP)
“Every field should get irrigation water.”
- Creation of minor irrigation sources
- Renovation of traditional water bodies
- Rainwater harvesting structures
- Groundwater recharge efforts
2. On Farm Water Management (OFWM)
- Supports pressurized irrigation infrastructure (drip/sprinkler)
- Helps in efficient last-mile water delivery
- Improves command area efficiency
3. Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP)
Focus: Runoff control + soil conservation
- Covers Drought Prone Areas (DPAP), Desert Development (DDP), and Wasteland Development
- Prevents soil erosion and increases moisture retention
- Promotes in-situ conservation and livelihood diversification
4. M-CADWM (Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management)
Focus: Technological backbone of irrigation systems
- Supplies water from canals to farm gates
- Uses pressurized underground piping
- Equipped with SCADA and IoT for smart irrigation monitoring
- Ensures 1-hectare irrigation units are efficiently served
Key Financial Mechanisms – Irrigation Funding Backbone
| Fund | Purpose |
| 🏦 LTIF (Long-Term Irrigation Fund) | For completion of large irrigation projects stuck for funds |
| 💧 MIF (Micro-Irrigation Fund) | Provides low-interest assistance to states for modern irrigation tools |
These are managed by NABARD, ensuring speedy disbursal and completion.
Water Budgeting – A Unique Feature
PMKSY introduces Water Budgeting at village and district level.
It calculates the total water demand from:
- 🌾 Agriculture
- 🏠 Domestic use
- 🏭 Industry
This holistic water accounting avoids overdrafting of groundwater and helps in sustainable planning.
Monitoring and Governance Framework
| Level | Institution | Role |
| 🧭 National Steering Committee (NSC) | Chaired by Prime Minister | Sets national-level vision |
| 🧠 National Executive Committee (NEC) | Chaired by Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog | Coordination & review |
| 🛰️ Central Water Commission | Real-time data and progress monitoring | |
| 📈 State PMKSY Cells | Field implementation and M&E |
UPSC Integration – Where This Appears in the Syllabus
| GS Paper | Relevance |
| GS II | Government policies, cooperative federalism |
| GS III | Agriculture (irrigation, productivity), water conservation |
| Essay | “Water is the most ignored input in Indian agriculture” |
| Ethics | Responsible resource stewardship (for Case Studies) |
What Makes PMKSY Unique?
- ✅ It integrates multiple schemes under one umbrella.
- 🔄 Brings behavioural, institutional, and technological reforms together.
- 💡 Focuses not only on water creation, but also on water productivity and conservation.
Final Words – The Ethical and Strategic Imperative
“Agriculture without assured irrigation is like a factory without power supply.”
PMKSY goes beyond constructing canals—it modernizes our mindset, promotes scientific irrigation, and ensures that India’s farms are water-secure, productive, and sustainable.