PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) Implementation Extended upto FY 2026 by Cabinet

Dear readers, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) headed by PM Narendra Modi has approved implementation of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for 2021-26 with an outlay of Rs. 93,068 crore. CCEA has approved central support of Rs. 37,454 crore to states and Rs. 20,434.56 crore of debt servicing for loan availed by Government of India for irrigation development during PMKSY 2016-21. Read this article till the end to know about extension of PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana upto financial year 2026.

PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana Extension till 2026

PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana extended for FY 2021-26, here are its details. 

• Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme - AIBP is a flagship programme of Government of India aims for financial support to irrigation projects. Total additional irrigation potential creation targeted during 2021-26 under AIBP is 13.88 lakh hectare. Apart from focused completion of 60 ongoing projects including their 30.23 lakh hectare command area development, additional projects can also be taken up. The inclusion criteria have been relaxed for projects under tribal and drought prone areas.
• Central funding of 90% of water component for two national projects - Under extended PMKSY, 2 national projects - Renukaji Dam Project (Himachal Pradesh) and Lakhwar Multipurpose Project (Uttarakhand) - has been provisioned. The two projects would provide beginning of storage in Yamuna basin benefitting six states of upper Yamuna basin, augmenting water supply to Delhi as well Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, UP, Haryana, and Rajasthan and a major step towards rejuvenation of Yamuna.
• Har Khet Ko Pani - HKKP aims for enhancement of physical access on the farm and expansion of cultivable area under assured irrigation. Under HKKP, surface minor irrigation and repair-renovation-restoration of water bodies component of PMKSY is targeted to provide additional 4.5 lakh hectare irrigation. In view of importance of rejuvenation of water bodies, the Cabinet has approved a paradigm shift in funding of their rejuvenation in both urban and rural areas, with significant expansion of their inclusion criteria, and enhancement of central assistance from 25% to 60% in general area. Further, Ground Water component of HKKP, approved provisionally for 2021-22, targets creation of irrigation potential of 1.52 lakh hectare.
• Watershed Development - This component focuses on development of rainfed areas towards soil and water conservation, regeneration of ground water, arresting runoff and promoting extension activities related to water harvesting and management. The approved Watershed Development component of Department of Land Resources envisages completion of sanctioned projects covering 49.5 lakh hectare rainfed/ degraded lands to bring additional 2.5 lakh hectare under protective irrigation, during 2021-26. A specific provision for development of springsheds has been included in the program.

About Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 

Government of India is committed to accord high priority to water conservation and its management. To this effect Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) has been formulated with the vision of extending the coverage of irrigation "Har Khet ko pani" and improving water use efficiency "More crop per drop" in a focused manner with end to end solution on source creation, distribution, management, field application and extension activities. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Hon’ble Prime Minister has accorded approval of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) in its meeting held on 1st July, 2015. Now the central government has extended its scope till FY 2026.

PMKSY has been formulated amalgamating ongoing schemes:-

• Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR,RD&GR)
• Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) of Department of Land Resources (DoLR)
• On Farm Water Management (OFWM) of Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC). 
• PMKSY has been approved for implementation across the country for FY 2021-26 with an outlay of Rs. 93,068 crore in five years. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), Har Khet ko Paani (HKKP) and Watershed Development components have been approved for continuation during 2021-26.

Objectives of PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana

• Convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level
• Expand cultivable area under assured irrigation
• Enhance the adoption of precision-irrigation
• Improve on-farm water use efficiency to reduce wastage of water
• Enhance adoption of other water saving technologies (More crop per drop)
• Enhance recharge of aquifers and introduce sustainable water conservation practices
• Attract greater private investment in precision irrigation system.
• Exploring the feasibility of reusing treated municipal waste water for peri-urban agriculture

Ministries Implementing PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana

PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana will be implemented by Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development.

• Ministry of Rural Development is to mainly undertake rain water conservation, construction of farm pond, water harvesting structures, small check dams and contour bunding etc.
• MoWR, RD &GR, is to undertake various measures for creation of assured irrigation source, construction of diversion canals, field channels, water diversion/lift irrigation, including development of water distribution systems.
• Ministry of Agriculture will promote efficient water conveyance and precision water application devices like drips, sprinklers, pivots, rain-guns in the farm “(Jal Sinchan)”, construction of micro-irrigation structures to supplement source creation activities, extension activities for promotion of scientific moisture conservation and agronomic measures.

PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana Components

Here we are describing the PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana components in details:-

Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP)

AIBP is being implemented by MoWR, RD & GR which focuses on faster completion of ongoing Major and Medium Irrigation including National Projects.

PMKSY - Har Khet Ko Pani

PMKSY (Har Khet Ko Pani) is being implemented by MoWR,RD &GR which focuses on:-

• Creation of new water sources through Minor Irrigation (both surface and ground water)
• Repair, restoration and renovation of water bodies; strengthening carrying capacity of traditional water sources, construction rain water harvesting structures (Jal Sanchay);
• Command area development, strengthening and creation of distribution network from source to the farm;
• Improvement in water management and distribution system for water bodies to take advantage of the available source which is not tapped to its fullest capacity (deriving benefits from low hanging fruits). At least 10% of the command area to be covered under micro/precision irrigation.
• Diversion of water from source of different location where it is plenty to nearby water scarce areas, lift irrigation from water bodies/rivers at lower elevation to supplement requirements beyond IWMP and MGNREGS irrespective of irrigation command.
• Creation and rejuvenation of traditional water storage systems like Jal Mandir (Gujarat); Khatri, Kuhl (H.P.); Zabo (Nagaland); Eri, Ooranis (T.N.); Dongs (Assam); Katas, Bandhas (Odisha and M.P.) etc. at feasible locations.

PMKSY - Watershed

PMKSY (Watershed) is being implemented by Department of Land Resources, MoRD which aims for

• Creation of water harvesting structures such as check dams, nala bund, farm ponds, tanks etc.
• Capacity building, entry point activities, ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, nursery raising, afforestation, horticulture, pasture development, livelihood activities for the asset-less persons and production system & micro enterprises for small and marginal farmers etc.
• Effective rainfall management like field bunding, contour bunding/trenching, staggered trenching, land levelling, mulching etc.

PMKSY - Per Drop More Crop

PMKSY (Per Drop More Crop) is being implemented by Dept. of Agriculture & Cooperation, MoA which aims for

• Programme management, preparation of State/District Irrigation Plan, approval of annual action plan, Monitoring etc.
• Promoting efficient water conveyance and precision water application devices like drips, sprinklers, pivots, rain-guns in the farm (Jal Sinchan);
• Topping up of input cost particularly under civil construction beyond permissible limit (40%), under MGNREGS for activities like lining inlet, outlet, silt traps, distribution system etc.
• Construction of micro irrigation structures to supplement source creation activities including tube wells and dug wells (in areas where ground water is available and not under semi critical /critical /over exploited category of development) which are not supported under PMKSY (WR), PMKSY (Watershed) and MGNREGS.
• Secondary storage structures at tail end of canal system to store water when available in abundance (rainy season) or from perennial sources like streams for use during dry periods through effective on-farm water management;
• Water lifting devices like diesel/ electric/ solar pumpsets including water carriage pipes.
• Extension activities for promotion of scientific moisture conservation and agronomic measures including cropping alignment to maximise use of available water including rainfall and minimise irrigation requirement (Jal sarankchan);
• Capacity building, training for encouraging potential use water source through technological, agronomic and management practices including community irrigation.
• Awareness campaign on water saving technologies, practices, programmes etc., organisation of workshops, conferences, publication of booklets, pamphlets, success stories, documentary, advertisements etc.
• Improved/innovative distribution system like pipe and box outlet system with controlled outlet and other activities of enhancing water use efficiency.

Background of PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana

Launched in 2015, PMKSY is an umbrella scheme, providing central grants to the State Governments for specific activities detailed below. It consists of two major components by Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, namely, Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), and Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP). HKKP, in turn, consists of four sub - components, being Command Area Development (CAD), Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI), Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies, and Ground Water Development. In addition, Watershed Development part is being implemented by Department of Land Resources. Another component of PMKSY, Per Drop More Crop is being implemented by Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

You can know more about PMKSY at pmksy.gov.in which is the official website for PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana.