PIB TrackerA decade of 'Per Drop More Crop': how India is stretching its irrigation water
As the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana completes a decade, the government reports over ₹64,000 crore in central help, 24.6 million hectares of irrigation potential and 110 lakh hectares under micro-irrigation — a push for water-secure, climate-resilient farming.
What happened
- Marking a decade since its launch on 1 July 2015, the government recapped the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) as a key driver of irrigation-led agricultural transformation and efficient water management.
- Central assistance has exceeded ₹64,407 crore; PMKSY has benefited over 27 million farmers.
- It has created or restored irrigation potential across 24.61 million hectares.
- Under Per Drop More Crop (PDMC), 110.92 lakh hectares have been brought under micro-irrigation (drip and sprinkler).
- The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated ₹6,587 crore to PMKSY to expand irrigation, improve water-use efficiency and promote sustainable, climate-resilient, water-secure farming.
For Prelims
- PMKSY (2015): An umbrella scheme for 'Har Khet Ko Pani' (water to every field) and 'Per Drop More Crop' (water-use efficiency); components include Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), Watershed Development and PDMC (micro-irrigation).
- Per Drop More Crop (PDMC): Promotes drip and sprinkler (micro-)irrigation to raise water-use efficiency and crop-per-drop — central to water-secure farming.
- Micro-Irrigation Fund (MIF): A NABARD-managed fund to expand micro-irrigation coverage by supporting states.
- Why water security: India has ~18% of the world's population but ~4% of its freshwater; agriculture uses ~80% of water — efficient irrigation is vital for climate resilience.
- Jal Shakti convergence: PMKSY aligns with the Jal Jeevan Mission, watershed/aquifer (Atal Bhujal) programmes and the goal of 'more crop per drop'.
- Irrigation potential created vs utilised: A recurring policy gap — creating potential must translate to actual irrigated area (last-mile field channels).
- Don't confuse: PMKSY is an umbrella with multiple components (AIBP/Watershed/PDMC); 'irrigation potential created' is distinct from 'potential utilised'.
For UPSC: PMKSY at a decade reports ₹64,407 crore of central help, 24.6 million ha of irrigation potential and 110 lakh ha under micro-irrigation. Anchor PMKSY's components ('Har Khet Ko Pani', PDMC/micro-irrigation, AIBP, Watershed), the Micro-Irrigation Fund, India's water stress (4% freshwater, 80% used in farming), and water-use efficiency for climate-resilient agriculture.
What it is NOT: PMKSY is an umbrella scheme with multiple components (AIBP, Watershed, PDMC) — not just micro-irrigation. 'Irrigation potential created' is distinct from 'potential utilised' (the last-mile gap); 'Per Drop More Crop' targets water-use efficiency, not merely expanding command area.
For Mains
Syllabus: GS3.4 · GS3.14 · Linkage L2
Anchor
Water-secure, climate-resilient agriculture — stretching scarce water through efficient, micro-irrigation-led farming.
Substantiation (data)
PMKSY at 10 years: ₹64,407 crore central assistance; 27 million+ farmers; 24.61 million ha irrigation potential; 110.92 lakh ha micro-irrigation; ₹6,587 crore in Budget 2026-27.
Exemplification
Cite Per Drop More Crop (drip/sprinkler), AIBP and the Micro-Irrigation Fund as instruments of water-use efficiency.
Problematisation
The potential-created-vs-utilised gap, groundwater over-extraction, skewed cropping (water-intensive crops), and last-mile delivery challenge water security.
Way-forward
Scale micro-irrigation and watershed work, align cropping with water availability, recharge aquifers (Atal Bhujal), and close the utilisation gap.
Position
Government stance: efficient, micro-irrigation-led water management is essential for productivity, climate resilience and farmer livelihoods.
Deploys into: Water security & sustainable agriculture (PMKSY/Per Drop More Crop) · micro-irrigation & water-use efficiency · climate resilience & watershed/aquifer · Jal Shakti convergence (GS3.4 agriculture & irrigation, GS3.14 conservation & water management).
Ministry of Jal Shakti · 2026-06-30 · PRID 2279431 · PIB source ↗