- Why in news
- On 30 June 2026, PIB issued a backgrounder marking over ten years of PMKSY, launched on 1 July 2015. It reports central assistance above ₹64,407 crore and ₹6,587 crore allocated in Union Budget 2026-27.
- What it is
- PMKSY is a centrally sponsored scheme that brings several irrigation efforts under one umbrella. Its aim is to expand assured irrigation and improve on-farm water efficiency, under the mottos Har Khet Ko Pani and Per Drop More Crop. It has components for major and medium projects, new water sources, watershed work and micro-irrigation.
- Launch
- PMKSY was launched on 1 July 2015.
- Components
- PMKSY has four components: AIBP, Har Khet Ko Pani, Watershed Development and Per Drop More Crop.
- Micro Irrigation Fund
- The Micro Irrigation Fund was set up under NABARD.
- 2021-26 outlay
- The scheme was continued for 2021-26 with an outlay of ₹93,068.56 crore.
Don’t confuse with PMKSY vs PM-RKVY: PMKSY is the irrigation umbrella scheme. PM-RKVY is the agriculture development scheme that now hosts PDMC.
Don’t confuse with Jal Sanchay vs Jal Sinchan: Jal Sanchay means rainwater storage and harvesting. Jal Sinchan means efficient water application at the farm.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Combines irrigation expansion with farm-level water efficiency, supporting climate resilience and farm incomes.
- Micro-irrigation saves water, power and fertiliser, helping groundwater-stressed regions.
Problems
- Slow completion of large irrigation projects and a gap between potential created and potential used.
- Micro-irrigation costs and uneven uptake, especially among small farmers.
Way forward
- Prioritise completion of near-ready projects and better command-area management.
- Pair micro-irrigation subsidies with credit access and water-efficient cropping patterns.
Put in your answer
PMKSY reach: Over 27 million farmers benefited and 24.61 million hectares of irrigation potential created or restored since 2016-17.
Micro-irrigation coverage: PDMC has brought 110.92 lakh hectares under micro-irrigation, about 7.98% of net sown area.
- 2021Mains GS3 · Q4How and to what extent micro-irrigation can help solve India's water crisis
- 2016Mains GS3 · Q7Define water-use efficiency and describe micro-irrigation's role in increasing it
- 2024Mains GS3 · Q13Major challenges facing Indian irrigation and government measures for efficient irrigation management
- 2011Prelims Q58Which statements about micro-irrigation are correct: nutrient loss reduction, dryland irrigation, groundwater checks
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Single answer
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements about the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY):
Which one of the following is correct?
True or false?
1 of 5
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana was launched in 2015.
True. Launched on 1 July 2015.
2.The Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme under PMKSY focuses on rapid completion of ongoing major and medium irrigation projects.
True. AIBP targets ongoing major and medium projects, including national projects.
3.Har Khet Ko Pani mainly focuses on integrated watershed management of rainfed and degraded lands.
False. HKKP creates new water sources through minor irrigation; watershed management is the Watershed Development component.
4.Since 2022-23, Per Drop More Crop has been implemented as part of PM-RKVY.
True. PDMC moved to PM-RKVY from 2022-23.
5.The Micro Irrigation Fund under PMKSY is housed in NABARD.
True. The fund was established under NABARD.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.