Renu Suresh

Expert

Published on: Sep 17, 2026

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

Har Khet Ko Paani

The Government of India introduced the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) in 2015. This initiative aims to expand cultivable areas under assured irrigation, reduce water wastage, and improve water-use efficiency in agriculture. By harnessing rainwater at the micro-level through Jal Sanchay and Jal Sinchan, PMKSY contributes to protective irrigation. Implemented with an outlay of Rs. 50,000 crore over five years (2015 to 2020), PMKSY plays a pivotal role in India's agricultural landscape. In this article, we will explore PMKSY in detail.

Motto of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

India's net agricultural area is 200.8 million hectares, but only 48% is irrigated. This leaves 52% of the area dependent on rainfall, resulting in inconsistent farm outputs. To enhance farm incomes and productivity, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was launched. The program assures protective irrigation for all agricultural farms, aiming to increase productivity and bring rural prosperity through the Har Khet Ko Paani (Water for every field) initiative.

PMKSY - Amalgamation of Schemes

PMKSY has amalgamated several previous schemes from three different ministries, such as:

Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) by the Ministry of Water Resources
River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD&GR)
Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) from the Department of Land Resources (DoLR)
On-Farm Water Management (OFWM) by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC)

Objective of PMKSY

The objectives of PMKSY include:

Achieving convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level
Enhancing physical water access on farms
Expanding cultivable areas under assured irrigation (Har Khet Ko Pani)
Maximizing water use through innovative technologies and practices
Reducing water wastage and boosting on-farm water availability
Encouraging precision-irrigation adoption (More Crop Per Drop)
Enhancing aquifer recharge and promoting sustainable water conservation practices
Ensuring rainfed areas adhere to watershed approaches for soil and water conservation
Promoting activities related to water harvesting, water management, and crop alignment for farmers
Reusing treated municipal waste water for peri-urban agriculture

Components of PMKSY

PMKSY comprises four major components:

Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP)

The Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), under the Ministry of Water Resources, aims to expedite the completion of ongoing irrigation projects, including both major and medium schemes.

PMKSY - Har Khet Ko Pani

Minor Irrigation

This component focuses on creating new water sources through minor irrigation, tapping into both surface and groundwater.

Water Sources

Initiatives include rehabilitating traditional water sources, repairing defunct systems, and constructing rainwater harvesting structures.

Development of Command Area

This involves improving water management and reinforcing distribution systems for optimal water source utility. At least 10% of command areas are required to adopt precision irrigation techniques.

Groundwater Development

Aimed at storing runoff or flood water during peak rainy seasons through comprehensive groundwater development programs.

Diversion of Water from Source

Diversion strategies involve transferring water from regions with sufficient supply to nearby water-scarce areas, and implement lift irrigation from lower-elevation water bodies or rivers.

PMKSY - Per Drop More Crop

Programme Management

Focusing on program administration, this segment is crucial for state and district irrigation plan formulation, annual action plan approvals, and overall scheme monitoring.

Jal Sinchan

Jal Sinchan promotes efficient water transportation and utilization of precision devices like drips, sprinklers, pivots, and rain-guns, ensuring effective on-farm water management.

Micro Irrigation

This component facilitates the construction of micro-irrigation structures, such as tube wells and dug wells, to support source-creation activities.

Secondary Storage Structures

Establishing secondary storage at the canal system's tail end to capture excess water for use during drier periods.

Water Lifting Devices

Diesel/electric/solar pump sets
Water carriage pipes
Underground piping systems

Jal Sarankchan

This initiative encourages scientific moisture conservation and effective agronomic practices to maximize water use, including rainfall, to minimize irrigation requirements.

Awareness Activities

Per Drop More Crop conducts various awareness programs:

Capacity building and training
Awareness campaigns, including low-cost publications
Utilizing pico projectors
Creating educational films to promote technological and agronomic measures.
Implementing community irrigation management practices

Extension workers are trained to disseminate relevant PMKSY technologies effectively, focusing on:

Scientific moisture conservation and agronomic methods
Innovative distribution systems, such as pipe and box outlet systems

Information Communication Technology (ICT)

ICT plays a pivotal role in enhancing water-use efficiency, precision irrigation, and on-farm water management, alongside intensive monitoring of the scheme.

Advantages of Micro Irrigation under Per Drop More Crop

The benefits of Micro Irrigation include:

Increased profits
Water savings and improved Water Use Efficiency (WUE)
Reduction in energy costs
Enhanced Fertilizer Use Efficiency (FUE)
Reduced labor costs
Decreased soil loss
Efficient use of marginal soils and water
Greater flexibility and efficiency
Improved crop quality and yields

PMKSY - Watershed Development

The Watershed Development program focuses on managing runoff water and enhancing soil and moisture conservation using approaches like ridge area treatment and rainwater harvesting.
PMKSY collaborates with MGNREGS for water source development, leveraging traditional water source renovation in identified backward rainfed blocks.

Eligibility Criteria for Fund Allocation

States must submit District and State Irrigation Plans, except for the initial year, to qualify for PMKSY funding. Calculations are based on aspects such as the percentage of unirrigated areas against the national average.

Proportion of unirrigated area in the state vs. the national average
Increased share of expenditure on water resource development over three years
Improvements in state irrigation efficiency

Funding Allocation

The Ministry of Finance and NITI Aayog determine PMKSY fund allocations for eligible state governments under the framework of centrally sponsored schemes.

Annual Outlay of PMKSY

The five-year PMKSY annual outlay amounts to Rs. 50,000 crore, divided between sub-schemes:

Sl.No	Department	Amount in Rs Crore
2015-2016	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020	Total
1	DAC	1800	2340	3050	3960	5150	16300
2	DoLR	1500	1950	2540	3300	4300	13590
3	AIBP	1000	1400	1980	2780	3900	11060
4	PMKSY	1000	1300	1690	2200	2860	9050
5	MoWR Sub Total	2000	2700	3670	4980	6760	20110
6	Grand Total	5300	6990	9260	12240	16120	50000

PMKSY – 2015 to 2016

In 2015-2016, the PMKSY allocated Rs 555.5 crore towards drought mitigation and water harvesting structures under MGREGA. An additional Rs 259 crore focused on improving water recharge in drought-affected districts. These measures identified highly drugged blocks for revitalization, as reported by the Central Ground Water Board.

Rs 175 crore for construction materials under MNREGA
Rs 259 crore allocated for water recharge and drought mitigation in affected districts
1,071 highly drugged blocks identified for revitalization
Rs 1,556.73 crore granted for Per Drop More Crop, benefiting 5.7 lakh hectares

PMKSY – 2016 to 2017

In 2016-17, Rs.520.90 crore facilitated drought mitigation, supporting the construction of 56,226 water harvesting structures and irrigation expansion. A total of 675 district irrigation schemes were developed, advancing 113,976 hectares of irrigation capacity.

Rs 1991.17 crore for Per Drop More Crop
8.39 lakh hectare area brought under micro irrigation
Rs 4509 crore disbursed between 2014-17, producing 18.38 lakh hectares under micro-irrigation

PMKSY – 2017 to 2018

The year 2017-18 saw Rs.3400 crore allocated for Per Drop More Crop, targeting a 12-lakh hectare expansion under micro-irrigation. PMKSY linked with Command Area Development to finish 99 major irrigation projects, reaching 76.03 lakh hectares by December 2019.

Back to Learn

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana Features and Objectives.

The primary objective of PMKSY is to achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level, enhance the physical access of water on farms, expand cultivable area under assured irrigation (Har Khet ko Pani), and promote efficient water use through new technologies and practices.

The four components of PMKSY are: Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), PMKSY - Har Khet Ko Pani (access to water for every farm), PMKSY - Per Drop More Crop (efficient water use), and PMKSY - Watershed Development (effective management of runoff water and soil moisture conservation).

PMKSY - Har Khet Ko Pani focuses on creating new sources of water through minor irrigation projects, repairing and renovating existing water sources, strengthening traditional water sources, constructing rainwater harvesting structures, and developing command areas to improve water management and distribution systems.

PMKSY - Per Drop More Crop promotes efficient water conveyance and precision water application devices like drips, sprinklers, and pivots in farms. It also supports the construction of micro-irrigation structures, secondary storage structures, water lifting devices, and awareness campaigns for scientific moisture conservation and agronomic measures.

PMKSY - Watershed Development focuses on effective management of runoff water and improved soil and moisture conservation activities such as ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, rainwater harvesting, in-situ moisture conservation, and other allied activities on a watershed basis.

The total outlay for PMKSY is Rs. 50,000 crore for five years (2015-2020). The outlay is divided among the components as follows: Rs. 16,300 crore for Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC), Rs. 13,590 crore for Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Rs. 11,060 crore for Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), and Rs. 9,050 crore for PMKSY.

PMKSY aims to promote water use efficiency in agriculture through various measures, including the adoption of precision irrigation techniques (like micro-irrigation), promotion of scientific moisture conservation and agronomic measures (like crop alignment), and the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) interventions for monitoring and disseminating relevant technologies.

States become eligible for PMKSY funds only if they have prepared District Irrigation Plans (DIP) and State Irrigation Plans (SIP), maintain a minimum baseline expenditure in the water resource development for agriculture sector, and levy charges on water and electricity for irrigation purposes.

PMKSY allocates funds for drought mitigation measures, such as the construction of water harvesting structures, recharging groundwater, and creating micro-water storage in drought-affected districts and highly drought-prone blocks identified by the Central Ground Water Board.

Some advantages of micro-irrigation promoted under PMKSY - Per Drop More Crop include higher profits, water saving and improved water use efficiency, reduced energy and labor costs, higher fertilizer use efficiency, reduced soil loss, suitability for marginal soils, improved crop quality, and higher yields.