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Q4 (IAS/2014) Economy › Schemes, Inclusion & Social Sector › Agriculture support schemes Official Key

Consider the following pairs : 1. Drought-Prone Area Programme - Ministry of Agriculture 2. Desert Development Programme - Ministry of Environment and Forests 3. National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas - Ministry of Rural Development Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

In 2009, three watershed programmes (DPAP, DDP, IWDP) were consolidated under a comprehensive programme called 'Integrated Watershed Management Programme' covered under the Ministry of Rural Development.[1] This indicates that both the Drought-Prone Area Programme (DPAP) and Desert Development Programme (DDP) currently fall under the Ministry of Rural Development, not the Ministry of Agriculture or Ministry of Environment and Forests as stated in pairs 1 and 2.

For the National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas, the Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP) is funded by the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development[2], and watershed programmes have been integrated under this ministry's purview. This makes pair 3 correctly matched.

Therefore, only pair 3 is correct, making option B the right answer. Pairs 1 and 2 incorrectly attribute DPAP and DDP to different ministries when they actually belong to the Ministry of Rural Development.

Sources
  1. [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > Current Status of DPAP > p. 46
  2. [2] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 6: Soils > Table 6.7 > p. 28
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Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full view
Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Consider the following pairs : 1. Drought-Prone Area Programme - Ministry of Agriculture 2. Desert Development Programme - Ministry of …
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 3.3/10 · 6.7/10

A classic 'Ministry Confusion' trap targeting the overlap between Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment. While standard books (Majid Husain) discuss these schemes under 'Climate' or 'Regional Planning', they often bury the administrative ownership. The key is to distinguish 'Area Development' (Rural Dev) from 'Farming Systems' (Agriculture).

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Is the Drought-Prone Areas Programme administered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 4/5
"it could be argued that... the DPAP and DDP programmes retransferred to the Department of Rural Development;"
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states DPAP (and DDP) would be retransferred to the Department of Rural Development, not the Ministry of Agriculture.
  • Implies DPAP responsibility lies with rural development bodies rather than the Ministry of Agriculture & Cooperation.
Web source
Presence: 3/5
"special programmes known as the Small Farmers Development Agency, the Drought Prone Areas Programme, ... were transferred to this department."
Why this source?
  • States the Drought Prone Areas Programme was transferred to 'this department' which became the Ministry of Rural Reconstruction.
  • Shows DPAP was managed by a rural development department/ministry rather than the Ministry of Agriculture.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > Current Status of DPAP > p. 46
Strength: 5/5
“• Year: 2001 and 2003; Regions: Guidelines for the watershed development were renamed as 'Haryali Guidelines' • Year: 2008; Regions: Common guidelines for watershed development programme have been made effective since April1, 2008 • Year: 2009; Regions: Three watershed programmes (DPAP, DDP, IWDP) have been consolidated under a comprehensive programme called 'Integrated Watershed Management Programme' covered under the Ministry of Rural Development. These steps, if taken together, can go a long way in minimising the miseries of people living in the drought prone areas of the county. Some of the important achievements of the Drought Prone Area Programme include the Indira Gandhi Canal Project, Sardar Sarovar Project (Narmada), and the Central Arid Research Institute, Jodhpur to promote drought resistant plants, trees and crops.”
Why relevant

States that in 2009 DPAP (with other watershed programmes) was consolidated under an 'Integrated Watershed Management Programme' covered under the Ministry of Rural Development.

How to extend

A student could infer that administration shifted away from the Ministry of Agriculture and check timelines or ministry notifications after 2009 to test whether DPAP remained with Agriculture.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) > p. 45
Strength: 4/5
“The drought prone area programme which covers 615 blocks, spread over ninety districts in the western, central and southern parts of the country, is an integrated area development programme in agricultural sector. It is the earliest area development programme launched by the Central government in 1973-1974 to tackle the problems of the drought hit areas of the country. Main Objectives: • (i) to make judicious and scientific utilisation of agricultural land, water and livestock resources,• (ii) to enhance and stabilise the income of the people of drought prone areas, particularly of the weaker section of society, and• (iii) restoration of ecological balance.”
Why relevant

Describes DPAP as an integrated area development programme in the agricultural sector launched by the Central government in 1973–74.

How to extend

A student could use this to hypothesize DPAP may originally have been run by agricultural authorities and then compare with later organisational changes.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Drought hazards > p. 65
Strength: 4/5
“According to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment, a drought prone area is defned as one in which the probability of drought year is greater than 20 per cent. A chronic drought prone area is one in which the probability of a drought year is greater than 40 per cent. A drought year occurs when less than 75 per cent of the average annual rainfall is recorded.”
Why relevant

Cites the 'Ministry of Agriculture' (alongside Ministry of Environment) as the source for the definition of 'drought prone area', showing Ministry of Agriculture involvement in drought-related policy/definitions.

How to extend

A student could treat this as evidence of Agriculture Ministry involvement in drought matters and then look for administrative responsibility for specific programmes like DPAP.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (IRDP) > p. 18
Strength: 3/5
“The Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) was launched by the Janta government in 1978-79, by bringing together the Community Area Development Programme (CADP), Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP), Small Farmer Development Agency (SFDA), and Marginal Farmers and Agricultural Labourers Agency (MFALA). Integrated rural development is one of the important tasks before the Government of India. The National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP) of the Central Government reiterates the cardinal importance of villages to overall development of the country”
Why relevant

Notes DPAP was one of several programmes brought together under the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) in 1978–79, indicating DPAP has been administratively reorganised into broader schemes.

How to extend

A student could use this pattern of reorganising programmes to suspect DPAP's administrative home may have changed over time and verify which ministry oversaw later consolidated schemes.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Te following steps can reduce the impact of drought conditions: > p. 70
Strength: 2/5
“• 6. Efective implementation of Drought-Prone Area Programmes (DPAP).• 7. Construction of water-reservoirs and drilling of wells and tube-wells.• 8. Diversifcation of agriculture.• 9. Restructuring of cropping patterns and crop combinations.• 10. Livestock and dairy development programmes.• 11. Development of alternate sources of energy.• 12. Interlinking of rivers: Te distribution of rainfall is not uniform in India. During the rainy season, some of the rivers are in spate, while some regions may be in the grip of severe droughts. Te problem of droughts and foods can be largely solved through an inter-basin linkage or through national water grid by connecting the diferent rivers of the country.”
Why relevant

Lists 'Effective implementation of Drought-Prone Area Programmes (DPAP)' among broader drought-mitigation steps, linking DPAP to multi-sectoral responses rather than a single ministry's domain.

How to extend

A student could infer DPAP implementation may involve multiple ministries and therefore verify official ownership rather than assume it is solely with Agriculture.

Statement 2
Is the Desert Development Programme administered by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Government of India)?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"could be abolished; the DPAP and DDP programmes retransferred to the Department of Rural Development; the Wastelands Development programme to the Ministry of Environment and Forests;"
Why this source?
  • Explicitly discusses administrative placement of DPAP and DDP, recommending retransferring DPAP and DDP to the Department of Rural Development.
  • Distinguishes Wastelands Development (to be with Ministry of Environment and Forests) from DDP, implying DDP is not administered by MoEF.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"it might be appropriate to make this department a part of Ministry of Agriculture. On the other hand, if the overriding priority has to be ‘conservation’, this department could either be made a separate ministry or made part of the Ministry of Environment and Forests."
Why this source?
  • Discusses possible placements for 'this department' and contrasts making it part of Ministry of Agriculture vs. Ministry of Environment and Forests.
  • The conditional language ('could be') indicates the programmes (including DDP) were not necessarily under MoEF at the time.
Web source
Presence: 3/5
"establishment of the National Wastelands Development Board (NWDB) under the Ministry of Environment and Forests."
Why this source?
  • States the National Wastelands Development Board was established under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, separately identifying wastelands work from DPAP/DDP.
  • This separation supports the view that DDP was not administered by MoEF in the same way as wastelands programmes.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 3: Terrestrial Ecosystems > Control measures > p. 31
Strength: 4/5
“India is a signatory to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The National Action Programme for combating desertification was prepared in zoo to take appropriate action in addressing the problems of desertification. Some of the major programmes currently implemented that address issues related to land degradation and desertification are • Integrated Watershed Management Programme• National Afforestation Programme• National Missbn for Green india It tilr-/ • The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme • Soil Conservation in the Catchment of River Valley Project and Flood Prone River • National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas • Desert Development Programme • Fodder and Feed Development Scheme - component of Grassland Development including Grass Reserves; Command Area Development and Water Management programme etc.”
Why relevant

Lists the Desert Development Programme among many national programmes addressing desertification and land degradation, implying it is a centrally recognised scheme.

How to extend

A student could check which central ministries typically host nationally recognised land/degradation programmes to see likely administrators.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 6: Soils > Table 6.7 > p. 28
Strength: 5/5
“• S.No.: 2.; Col2: Centrally Sponsored Schemes; Scheme/Project: Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP) ( funded by Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development) Government of India; Col4: ; Objective: Intends to involve the village communities in the implementation of this programme adopted the guidelines of watershed development programme 1995 which were revised in 2001, and in 2003 (Hariyali); Activities Undertaken: 112 projects have been sanctioned to treat 439 micro watershed covering an area of 2,21,225 hectares with a cost of lakhs • S.No.: ; Col2: ; Scheme/Project: Integrated Wasteland Management Programme (IWMP); Col4: 2009– 10; Objective: Approval treatment of 30,000 hectares of land in 18 watershed projects of the state was made; Activities Undertaken: i) to dissipate the soil , water erosion and surface water run off ii) Harvesting of surface run off and rainwater iii) To enhance the • S.No.: ; Col2: ; Scheme/Project: ; Col4: 2010– 11; Objective: 52000 hectares of land; Activities Undertaken: water holding capacity of the soil iv) To promote the sub surface flow, base flow and • S.No.: ; Col2: ; Scheme/Project: ; Col4: 2011– 12; Objective: 37,500 hectares of land; Activities Undertaken: groundwater recharge v) To improve soil texture and its 13 | 38,870 hectares of land | productivity vi) To promote generation of employment opportunities • 3. | Other Schemes of the Government | 1.”
Why relevant

Shows that a closely related scheme (Integrated Wasteland/Watershed programmes) is funded by the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, illustrating that land/watershed schemes are sometimes administered outside MoEF.

How to extend

Compare administrative homes of analogous programmes (IWDP/IWMP) to assess whether DDP is more likely under Rural Development/Agriculture or MoEF.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > Desertification and Desert Development Programme > p. 51
Strength: 4/5
“Presently, the programme is 100% sponsored (75:25 basis in hot arid areas between the Centre and the states). Eighty per cent of the funds are transferred to the bank account of the Watershed Committee/Gram Panchayats which implement the programme. Desert Development Programme aims at checking further desertification of the desert areas and raising productivity of the local resources to generate employment, to raise the income and standard of living of the inhabitants of the desert.”
Why relevant

Describes DDP funding pattern (centrally sponsored 75:25 and transfers to Watershed Committee/Gram Panchayats), a structure common to centrally sponsored programmes across several ministries.

How to extend

Use the funding/implementation pattern to look up which central ministry typically manages centrally sponsored 75:25 watershed/desert schemes.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > Desertification and Desert Development Programme > p. 50
Strength: 3/5
“The Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) was launched in 1973–74 to tackle the special problems faced by areas constantly affected by severe drought conditions, while the Desert Development Programme (DDP) was launched in 1977–78 to mitigate the adverse effects of desertification, the Integrated Watershed Development Programme (IWDP) has been implemented since 1989–90 for the development of watersheds/degraded lands. The basis of implementation of all the three programmes has been shifted from sectoral to watershed from April 1995.”
Why relevant

Gives the launch date (1977–78) and notes shift to watershed-based implementation, indicating institutional history that might reveal which ministry oversaw it historically.

How to extend

Trace historical administrative responsibility for the scheme from its launch year to see whether it has been under MoEF or another ministry.

INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation > 48 INDIA : PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT > p. 48
Strength: 3/5
“Source : Annual Report 2018-19, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.”
Why relevant

Cites an Annual Report of the Ministry of Environment and Forests as a source for related material, suggesting MoEF publishes information on desertification programmes.

How to extend

Check MoEF annual reports (or similar reports listed) to see whether they describe administrative responsibility for DDP.

Statement 3
Is the National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas administered by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > Current Status of DPAP > p. 46
Presence: 5/5
“• Year: 2001 and 2003; Regions: Guidelines for the watershed development were renamed as 'Haryali Guidelines' • Year: 2008; Regions: Common guidelines for watershed development programme have been made effective since April1, 2008 • Year: 2009; Regions: Three watershed programmes (DPAP, DDP, IWDP) have been consolidated under a comprehensive programme called 'Integrated Watershed Management Programme' covered under the Ministry of Rural Development. These steps, if taken together, can go a long way in minimising the miseries of people living in the drought prone areas of the county. Some of the important achievements of the Drought Prone Area Programme include the Indira Gandhi Canal Project, Sardar Sarovar Project (Narmada), and the Central Arid Research Institute, Jodhpur to promote drought resistant plants, trees and crops.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states that three watershed programmes were consolidated under an Integrated Watershed Management Programme 'covered under the Ministry of Rural Development'.
  • Shows that watershed programmes at national level fall under the administrative ambit of the Ministry of Rural Development.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 6: Soils > Table 6.7 > p. 28
Presence: 4/5
“• S.No.: 2.; Col2: Centrally Sponsored Schemes; Scheme/Project: Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP) ( funded by Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development) Government of India; Col4: ; Objective: Intends to involve the village communities in the implementation of this programme adopted the guidelines of watershed development programme 1995 which were revised in 2001, and in 2003 (Hariyali); Activities Undertaken: 112 projects have been sanctioned to treat 439 micro watershed covering an area of 2,21,225 hectares with a cost of lakhs • S.No.: ; Col2: ; Scheme/Project: Integrated Wasteland Management Programme (IWMP); Col4: 2009– 10; Objective: Approval treatment of 30,000 hectares of land in 18 watershed projects of the state was made; Activities Undertaken: i) to dissipate the soil , water erosion and surface water run off ii) Harvesting of surface run off and rainwater iii) To enhance the • S.No.: ; Col2: ; Scheme/Project: ; Col4: 2010– 11; Objective: 52000 hectares of land; Activities Undertaken: water holding capacity of the soil iv) To promote the sub surface flow, base flow and • S.No.: ; Col2: ; Scheme/Project: ; Col4: 2011– 12; Objective: 37,500 hectares of land; Activities Undertaken: groundwater recharge v) To improve soil texture and its 13 | 38,870 hectares of land | productivity vi) To promote generation of employment opportunities • 3. | Other Schemes of the Government | 1.”
Why this source?
  • Identifies the Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (a watershed-related scheme) as funded by the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development.
  • Supports the pattern that central watershed/wasteland schemes are administered through Ministry of Rural Development structures.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > NATIONAL WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR RAINFED AREAS (NWDPRA) > p. 52
Presence: 3/5
“The National Watershed Development Project for rainfed areas was launched in the Eight Plan period and has been subsurned under”
Why this source?
  • Mentions the National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) by name, confirming it is a national watershed project.
  • Says the project has been subsumed (implying incorporation into broader/central watershed arrangements) consistent with consolidation under MoRD.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC loves the 'Tri-Junction' of Ministries (Agri vs Rural Dev vs Env). Whenever a scheme involves land or water, explicitly check which of these three owns it. Do not rely on the scheme name alone.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Trap. Standard books list the schemes but the 'Ministry' column is often ignored by aspirants who assume 'Drought' = Agriculture.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Dryland Farming & Watershed Management. The administrative split between Dept of Land Resources (MoRD) and Dept of Agriculture (MoA).
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Watershed Split': 1. MoRD (Dept Land Resources): DPAP, DDP, IWDP (now WDC-PMKSY). 2. MoA (Dept Ag): NWDPRA, RAD (Rainfed Area Development). 3. MoEFCC: NAP (National Afforestation Programme). 4. Jal Shakti: CADWM (Command Area Development).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Use a 'Functional Heuristic' rather than rote memorization. If the scheme targets 'Backward Area/Poverty' (Drought/Desert), it falls under Rural Development. If it targets 'Crop Productivity/Farming Method' (Rainfed), it falls under Agriculture.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Administrative custodianship of DPAP (Ministry of Rural Development link)
💡 The insight

Reference [3] states DPAP was consolidated into an Integrated Watershed Management Programme covered under the Ministry of Rural Development, which is directly relevant to which ministry administers DPAP.

UPSC often asks which ministry or department administers major flagship/area programmes; knowing restructurings (e.g., consolidation under Rural Development) prevents misattributing programmes to older or related ministries. Learn by mapping programme histories and recent consolidations; cross-check current ministry custodianship in official scheme descriptions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > Current Status of DPAP > p. 46
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) > p. 45
🔗 Anchor: "Is the Drought-Prone Areas Programme administered by the Ministry of Agriculture..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Role of Ministries in defining drought and drought-prone areas
💡 The insight

References [2] and [5] cite the Ministry of Agriculture (and Ministry of Environment) as authorities defining 'drought-prone area', showing ministry involvement in technical definitions distinct from scheme administration.

Questions may differentiate between technical/definitional roles (which ministry defines criteria) and administrative roles (which ministry runs a scheme). Mastering this distinction helps answer linked questions on policy versus administration. Study source documents where ministries issue definitions/guidelines versus those that implement programmes.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Drought hazards > p. 65
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > DROUGHTS > p. 42
🔗 Anchor: "Is the Drought-Prone Areas Programme administered by the Ministry of Agriculture..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Origins and objectives of DPAP (historical context)
💡 The insight

Reference [1] gives DPAP's launch year, scope, and objectives—useful background when assessing which ministry logically would have overseen the programme historically.

Exam questions often require knowing when and why programmes were launched and their sectoral focus to infer administrative linkages or policy intent. Memorise launch timelines, stated objectives, and sectoral domain to link programmes to likely implementing ministries and subsequent reorganisations.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) > p. 45
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > Current Status of DPAP > p. 46
🔗 Anchor: "Is the Drought-Prone Areas Programme administered by the Ministry of Agriculture..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Desert Development Programme (DDP): objectives and strategies
💡 The insight

Several references describe the DDP's aims (checking desertification, raising productivity) and specific strategies adopted under the programme.

DDP-level objectives and strategies are frequently asked in environment and geography sections; mastering them helps answer questions on desertification mitigation, rural livelihoods interventions, and linked schemes. Study the launch timeline, stated aims, and listed interventions for concise answers and comparisons with other anti-desertification programmes.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > Desertification and Desert Development Programme > p. 51
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > Strategies for Development > p. 52
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > Desertification and Desert Development Programme > p. 50
🔗 Anchor: "Is the Desert Development Programme administered by the Ministry of Environment ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Funding & implementation pattern of centrally sponsored land programmes
💡 The insight

The evidence shows specific Centre–state funding shares and the channeling of funds to local bodies (Watershed Committee/Gram Panchayats) for programme implementation.

Understanding funding modalities (e.g., 100% sponsored; 75:25 Centre–state in hot arid areas; funds to panchayats) is high-yield for UPSC questions on scheme design, federal role, and grassroots implementation. Practice by comparing funding/implementation across schemes and noting administrative accountability.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > Desertification and Desert Development Programme > p. 51
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 6: Soils > Table 6.7 > p. 28
🔗 Anchor: "Is the Desert Development Programme administered by the Ministry of Environment ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Shift to watershed-based implementation for land/degradation programmes
💡 The insight

One reference explicitly states that the implementation basis for DDP and related programmes was shifted from sectoral to watershed from April 1995.

The watershed approach is a recurrent theme in questions on land degradation, watershed management and integrated rural development. Aspirants should link policy shifts (sectoral → watershed), rationale, and outcomes; prepare by mapping timelines and programme-level changes.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > Desertification and Desert Development Programme > p. 50
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 6: Soils > Table 6.7 > p. 28
🔗 Anchor: "Is the Desert Development Programme administered by the Ministry of Environment ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Administrative control of national watershed programmes
💡 The insight

The references show watershed schemes (e.g., consolidated IWMP) are covered by the Ministry of Rural Development, which directly bears on whether NWDPRA would be administered by that ministry.

High-yield for UPSC: questions frequently ask which ministry/dept administers major rural/environmental schemes. Understanding which ministry oversees watershed and wasteland programmes helps answer queries on policy ownership, funding, and implementation chains. Learn by mapping schemes to ministries and noting consolidations across Five-Year Plans and guideline changes.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > Current Status of DPAP > p. 46
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 6: Soils > Table 6.7 > p. 28
🔗 Anchor: "Is the National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas administered by ..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The 'Successor' Scheme: DPAP, DDP, and IWDP were consolidated into the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) in 2009, which is now the 'Watershed Development Component' of PMKSY. Expect a question on the components of PMKSY and their respective ministries.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Apply the 'Mandate Logic':
1. 'Development Programme' for backward regions (Desert/Drought) is a poverty alleviation tool -> Ministry of Rural Development.
2. 'Rainfed Areas' refers to a farming system -> Ministry of Agriculture.
3. Ministry of Environment focuses on 'Conservation', not 'Area Development'.
This logic eliminates all three pairs immediately.

🔗 Mains Connection

Mains GS-3 (Irrigation/Agriculture): Use these schemes to discuss the evolution from 'Fragmented Approach' to 'Convergence' (PMKSY). Citing the shift from DPAP to PMKSY shows depth in understanding policy evolution.

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