Q62 (IAS/2015) Economy › Agriculture & Rural Economy › Irrigation and watershed Official Key

Consider the following statements : 1. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme was launched during 1996-97 to provide loan assistance to poor farmers. 2. The Command Area Development Programme was launched in 1974-75 for the development of water-use efficiency. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Result

Your answer: — · Correct: B

Explanation

**Statement 1 is incorrect.** The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) was launched during 1996-97 as a Central Assistance programme for accelerating the implementation of large projects which were beyond the resource capability of the States.[1] While Rs. 500 crore was released as central loan assistance to the States during 1996-97[2], the programme's primary objective was not to provide loan assistance to poor farmers but to accelerate large irrigation projects.

**Statement 2 is correct.** The Command Area Development Programme was launched in 1974–75 with the set objectives of improving the utilisation of created irrigation potential and optimising agriculture production and productivity from irrigated agriculture[3], which essentially relates to improving water-use efficiency in command areas. The programme aimed to optimize the use of irrigation infrastructure already created.

Therefore, only Statement 2 is correct, making option B the right answer.

Sources

[1] https://cag.gov.in/uploads/download_audit_report/2018/Report_No_22_of_2018_Accelerated_Irrigation_Benefits_Programme_Ministry_of_Water_Resources_River_Development.pdf
[2] https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/budget_archive/es97-98/chap84.pdf
[3] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > COMMAND AREA DEVELOPMENT > p. 23

How others answered

Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.

Community Performance

Out of everyone who attempted this question.

29%

got it right

Web / Current Affairs

Online pages / news items supporting the statement

Web source

Presence: 5/5

"The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) was launched during 1996-97"

Why this source?

Direct statement in an official CAG report that AIBP was launched in 1996-97.
Context specifies it was a Central Assistance programme started in that year.

Web source

Presence: 5/5

"The Government launched Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) in 1996-97."

Why this source?

Government budget document explicitly states the AIBP was launched in 1996-97.
Mentions central loan assistance released in 1996-97, confirming launch-year activity.

Web source

Presence: 5/5

"The Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) was launched by the Central Government in 1996-97"

Why this source?

UN-hosted document reiterates that the Central Government launched AIBP in 1996-97.
Provides supporting international-source corroboration of the launch year.

Indirect textbook clues (5)

How books hint at the answer

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 11: Irrigation in India > Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) > p. 369

Strength: 5/5

“• Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme of Ministry of Jal Shakti (Department i. of Water Resources, RD & GR) • Integrated Watershed Management of Ministry of Rural Development ii. • Farm Water Management of National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture of iii. Department of Agriculture and Cooperation • PMKSY was launched under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. But in 2016, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has been made the nodal ministry for PMKSY. • Motto of PMKSY: Har Khet Ko Paani. It focuses on extending loan assistance to the States for faster completion of ongoing major and medium irrigation projects.”

Why relevant

Explicitly names the "Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme" as a recognized government irrigation initiative, showing AIBP is part of the modern suite of irrigation schemes.

How to extend

A student could use this to search program lists or timelines of government irrigation schemes to locate AIBP's launch year (knowing it exists and is linked to PMKSY-era policy discussions helps target sources).

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

Shows a pattern of government irrigation/watershed programmes being created and restructured across decades, with a notable policy shift to watershed implementation from April 1995.

How to extend

A student could infer the mid-1990s were an active policy period and therefore check whether AIBP fits into this mid-90s wave of initiatives (making 1996–97 plausible to verify).

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > COMMAND AREA DEVELOPMENT > p. 23

Strength: 3/5

“The Command Area Development Programme was launched in 1974–75 with the set objectives of improving the utilisation of created irrigation potential and optimising agriculture production and productivity from irrigated agriculture through a multi-disciplinary team under an Area Development Authority. It is about the command areas of the major and medium irrigation projects in the country. The programme was restructured and termed as "Command Area Development and Water Management (CADWM) Programme" from 1 April 2004. This programme was initially introduced in 60 major and minor projects including the Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area in 1974. Subsequently, the Command Area Development Programme was spread 110 districts in 13 states, covering about 15 million hectares of irrigated agricultural land.”

Why relevant

Gives an example of an irrigation-related programme (Command Area Development) launched earlier (1974–75) and later restructured (2004), indicating programmes often have launch and later reorganisation dates.

How to extend

A student could apply this pattern (initial launch then later restructuring) to AIBP to look for its original launch date and any later reorganisation records to confirm timing.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > Government Strategy > p. 36

Strength: 2/5

“The total renewable water resources of India are estimated at about 1900 sq km per annum. It is predicted that by 2025 large parts of India will join countries or regions having absolute water scarcity. Groundwater has emerged as the prime source of drinking and irrigation. About 77% of present groundwater withdrawl is being used for irrigation purpose, thus contributing largely in food security of the country. The following steps have been taken by the government to implement the water harvesting programme: • 1. Since sustainability of drinking water-source is of paramount importance for smooth functioning of rural water supply, 25% out of 20% of the allocation under Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) has been earmarked exclusively for water harvesting schemes to make implementation of such schemes mandatory.• 2.”

Why relevant

References government allocations and programme structuring for water-related schemes (e.g., ARWSP earmarking), illustrating that irrigation/water programmes have documented administrative changes and budgetary notes.

How to extend

Knowing such programmes are documented in budget/administrative notes, a student could examine mid-1990s budget documents or ministry records to find a formal launch date for AIBP.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 17: Contemporary Issues > 5. Development of Canal Irrigation > p. 68

Strength: 2/5

“In order to overcome the problem of food shortage and famine, the British Government in India developed canal irrigation by digging the Upper-Ganga Canal (1854), the Lower-Ganga Canal (1878), the Agra Canal (1878), the Bari Doab Canal (1878), etc. The benefit of irrigation development were mainly concentrated in northern, western, and southern provinces during the British Period. Central and Eastern India were relatively neglected. The historical growth processes described above explain the creation of regional imbalances in the early stage of development and modernisation in India.”

Why relevant

Provides historical context that irrigation policy in India evolved over long periods, implying programme launches are part of documented policy timelines.

How to extend

A student could use this historical-timeline approach to place AIBP within the broader chronology of irrigation initiatives and check if 1996–97 aligns with known waves of programme launches.

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