Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the soil for assisting in the production of crops. In India, where nearly 50% of the workforce depends on agriculture and monsoon patterns are increasingly erratic, irrigation serves as the backbone of food security. India possesses the world’s largest irrigated area, yet only about 48% of the total net sown area is currently under assured irrigation.
Classification of Irrigation Projects
The Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog) classifies irrigation projects based on the Culturable Command Area (CCA), which refers to the area which can be physically irrigated from a scheme and is fit for cultivation.
| Project Category | Culturable Command Area (CCA) | Key Characteristics |
| Major Irrigation | More than 10,000 hectares | Large dams, canals, and multi-purpose river valley projects. |
| Medium Irrigation | 2,000 to 10,000 hectares | Smaller canals and distributaries; usually state-funded. |
| Minor Irrigation | Less than 2,000 hectares | Groundwater (tubewells) and surface water (tanks). |
Sources of Irrigation in India
The Indian irrigation system is predominantly groundwater-dependent, which has led to significant depletion of aquifers in the northwest and peninsular regions.
Groundwater Irrigation (Wells and Tubewells)
- Dominance: Accounts for approximately 62% of the total net irrigated area.
- Geographic Concentration: Highly prevalent in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
- Advantage: Provides “on-demand” irrigation to farmers and is less dependent on government-managed canal schedules.
Canal Irrigation
- Contribution: Covers nearly 24% of the irrigated area.
- Types: Inundation canals (flow only when rivers flood) and Perennial canals (fed by barrages/dams).
- Regional Focus: Most developed in the Northern Plains (Indo-Gangetic) due to perennial Himalayan rivers and soft alluvial soil which is easy to dig.
Tank Irrigation
- Contribution: Approximately 3-5% of the total area.
- Geographic Concentration: Popular in South India (Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka).
- Rationale: The rocky terrain of the Deccan Plateau makes it difficult to dig wells or canals; natural depressions are used to store rainwater.
Key Government Initiatives and Schemes
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
Launched in 2015, PMKSY aims to achieve “Har Khet Ko Pani” (Water for every farm) and “More Crop Per Drop.”
- Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP): Focuses on faster completion of ongoing major and medium irrigation projects.
- PMKSY-Per Drop More Crop (PDMC): Promotes micro-irrigation technologies like drip and sprinkler systems to improve water use efficiency.
- Watershed Development: Focuses on effective management of runoff water and improved soil & moisture conservation activities.
Micro-Irrigation Fund (MIF)
- A dedicated fund created with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
- It provides subsidized loans to states to incentivize the adoption of micro-irrigation.
Efficiency and Challenges in Indian Irrigation
Water Use Efficiency (WUE)
India’s average WUE for surface water is estimated at 30-40%, while for groundwater, it is around 60%. This is significantly lower compared to global standards of 60% and 75% respectively.
Major Challenges
- Regional Imbalances: Significant disparity between the heavily irrigated northwest and the rain-fed eastern and central regions.
- Over-exploitation: Free or subsidized electricity for agriculture has led to the indiscriminate pumping of groundwater, causing the water table to fall by over 1 meter per year in parts of Punjab and Haryana.
- Command Area Development: A gap exists between the “Irrigation Potential Created” (IPC) and “Irrigation Potential Utilized” (IPU) due to poor maintenance of field channels.
Institutional Framework
- Ministry of Jal Shakti: Formed in 2019 by merging the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
- Central Water Commission (CWC): Responsible for the control, conservation, and utilization of water resources throughout the country.
- Central Ground Water Board (CGWB): The national apex organization with the mandate to develop and disseminate technologies and monitor groundwater resources.
Statistical Trivia for Prelims
- Highest Percentage of Irrigated Area: Punjab (nearly 98% of its net sown area is irrigated).
- States with highest Tank Irrigation: Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- Major Crop Consumption: Rice and Sugarcane alone consume more than 60% of India’s irrigation water.
- Total Ultimate Irrigation Potential (UIP): Estimated at approximately 140 million hectares.