Centre says ₹64,407 crore assistance has created or restored irrigation potential across 24.61 million hectares; Budget 2026-27 allocates ₹6,587 crore
New Delhi, June 30: The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), the Centre’s flagship irrigation programme, has completed more than a decade of implementation, with the government highlighting its role in expanding irrigation infrastructure, improving water-use efficiency and promoting sustainable agricultural growth across the country.
According to an official statement issued on Tuesday, the scheme has received central assistance exceeding ₹64,407 crore since 2016-17, benefiting more than 27 million farmers while creating or restoring irrigation potential across 24.61 million hectares. The Union Budget 2026-27 has earmarked ₹6,587 crore for the programme to further strengthen irrigation, improve water-use efficiency and promote sustainable water management.
Launched on July 1, 2015, PMKSY aims to expand assured irrigation coverage, improve on-farm water management and encourage water conservation through rainwater harvesting and efficient irrigation systems under the twin objectives of Jal Sanchay (water conservation) and Jal Sinchan (efficient water application).
The government said the programme has contributed to improving crop productivity, conserving water resources, enhancing soil health and extending irrigation coverage using existing water sources.
Four-pronged approach
PMKSY operates through four major components covering different aspects of irrigation development and water management.
The Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) focuses on the timely completion of major and medium irrigation projects. Since 2016-17, it has received central assistance of ₹21,023 crore and benefited around 17.30 million farmers, making it the largest component of PMKSY in terms of beneficiary coverage.
The government also approved the Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM) as a sub-scheme under AIBP during 2025-26 with an initial allocation of ₹1,600 crore. The initiative aims to improve water delivery from major irrigation projects through pressurised piped networks and micro-irrigation systems.
The Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) component seeks to expand irrigation by creating new surface and groundwater sources. According to the government, 3,462 Surface Minor Irrigation and Repair, Renovation and Restoration schemes have been completed since the scheme’s inception. These projects have created irrigation potential over 5.93 lakh hectares, while groundwater interventions have added another 88,550 hectares of irrigation coverage.
The Watershed Development component focuses on restoring degraded and rainfed areas through integrated watershed management. Since 2016-17, it has received ₹12,432 crore in central assistance and benefited approximately 1.34 million farmers while supporting sustainable natural resource management.
Focus on micro-irrigation
The government highlighted the role of Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) in promoting efficient water use through drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. Although PDMC became part of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) from 2022-23, it continues to complement PMKSY’s irrigation objectives by encouraging precision irrigation at the farm level.
According to the statement, the scheme has brought 110.92 lakh hectares under micro-irrigation since its inception, accounting for nearly 8 per cent of India’s net sown area.
Financial assistance of 55 per cent is provided to small and marginal farmers for installing micro-irrigation systems, while other farmers receive 45 per cent support. Around 9.3 lakh farmers benefit annually from the programme.
The government said the Micro Irrigation Fund, established under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), has also helped expand adoption of drip and sprinkler irrigation technologies.
Continued investment
The Centre approved continuation of PMKSY for the 2021-26 period with an overall outlay of ₹93,068.56 crore. As of August 2025, the scheme had benefited over 27 million farmers through irrigation, watershed development, groundwater interventions and micro-irrigation initiatives.
Collectively, these interventions have covered or developed more than 24.61 million hectares, strengthening water security and supporting sustainable agricultural production, the statement said.
Farmer success story
The government cited the experience of farmers Uma Shankar Verma and Subhash Verma from Barabanki district in Uttar Pradesh, who adopted sprinkler irrigation under PMKSY in 2016 after years of conventional flood irrigation.
According to the statement, the new irrigation system increased crop yields by 25-30 per cent while reducing water, electricity, labour and fertiliser use by nearly half. Labour requirements declined by 50-60 per cent, fertiliser consumption dropped significantly and farm profits increased to around ₹60,000-70,000 per hectare.
The government said the success of the two farmers has encouraged neighbouring cultivators to adopt sprinkler irrigation technologies.
Supporting climate-resilient agriculture
The government said PMKSY has played a key role in promoting climate-resilient agriculture by improving irrigation efficiency, conserving water resources and encouraging sustainable farming practices.
Through its various components, the scheme has expanded irrigation access, strengthened rural livelihoods and promoted environmentally sustainable agricultural development while supporting millions of farmers, particularly small and marginal cultivators, across the country.
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