Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana has been formed by amalgamating ongoing schemes such as the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) and On-farm Water Management (OFWM).

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana is supervised and monitored by an Inter-ministerial National Steering Committee (NSC), which was constituted under the Prime Minister and some Union Ministers. A National Executive Committee (NEC) was constituted under the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog to oversee programme implementation, resource allocation, inter-ministerial coordination, monitoring & performance assessment, administrative issues, etc.

Objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana includes the following:

• Achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level (preparation of district-level and if required, subdistrict-level water use plans)
• Enhance physical access of water on the farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation (Har Khet ko Pani)
• Integrate water source, distribution, and its efficient use to make the best use of water through appropriate technologies and practices
• Optimise farm water use (and reduce wastage) and increase availability (duration and extent)
• Enhance adoption of precision irrigation and other water-saving technologies (Per Drop More Crop)
• Enhance recharging of aquifers and introduce sustainable water-conservation practices
• Ensure integrated development of rainfed areas using the watershed approach towards conserving soil and water, regenerating ground water, arresting runoff, providing livelihood options and other NRM activities
• Promote extension activities pertaining to water harvesting, water management and crop alignment for farmers and grassroot-level field functionaries
• Explore the feasibility of reusing treated municipal wastewater for peri-urban agriculture
• Attract more private investments in irrigation

Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)

The AIBP was launched by the central government in 1996 to aid major and mid-sized irrigation projects in India. The objective was to accelerate implementation of projects beyond the resource capability of states or in the advanced stages of completion. After 2015, the AIBP became a part of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana. Also, funding of two national projects, Lakhwar and Renuka, has also been approved. Through these projects, creation of 13.88 lakh hectare irrigation potential under AIBP and 30.23 lakh cultivable command area coverage under CAD&WM has been anticipated during 2021-26.

As of May 8, 2026, under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana–Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (PMKSY-AIBP), 71 out of 123 projects had been completed, achieving 57.72% completion. Against the target irrigation potential of 4,531.86 thousand hectares, irrigation potential of 2,940.97 thousand hectares had been created, reflecting 64.90% achievement.

Command Area Development & Water Management Programme (CAD&WM)

The main objective of the Command Area Development & Water Management Programme is to enhance utilisation of irrigation potential created and improve agriculture productivity and production on a sustainable basis through integrated and coordinated approach involving multidisciplinary teams. The programme has been restricted to the projects prioritised under the AIBP.

As of May 5, 2026, under the Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM) programme, 23.39 lakh hectares of culturable command area had been developed against the target of 45.36 lakh hectares, achieving 51.57% progress. The programme also facilitated the formation of 9,525 Water User Associations against the target of 14,275, reflecting 66.73% completion.

Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI)

Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) schemes with irrigation potential less than 2,000 hectares are included under the AIBP for providing central assistance. The scheme has been extended to an area covering drought-prone areas, flood-prone areas, tribal, left-wing extremist and the Koraput, Bolangir and Kalahandi (KBK) region of Odisha.

As of May 2026, under the Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) programme, 5,878 schemes out of a total 7,792 schemes had been completed, while 1,914 schemes remained under implementation. The programme continues to support the expansion of irrigation infrastructure and improve water availability for agricultural activities across states.

Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) Programme

In India, tanks, ponds, and lakes play an important role in conserving water to meet the various needs of communities. The Ministry of Water Resources launched the Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) scheme for water bodies in 2005. Under the scheme of RRR of water bodies with external assistance, 10887 water bodies have been covered at an estimated cost of Rs. 3,700 crore (~US$ 493.72 million) with CCA of 8.25 lakh ha. in four states viz. Odisha, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

As of May 2026, under the Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) programme, 2,362 water bodies had been completed out of a total 3,345 identified water bodies, while 983 water bodies remained under various stages of implementation. The programme aims to restore and improve traditional water bodies to enhance irrigation capacity, groundwater recharge, and water conservation across the country.

Har Khet ko Pani

The Har Khet ko Pani scheme includes creation of new water sources through minor irrigation repair, restoration, and renovation of water bodies; strengthening of the carrying capacity of traditional water sources; construction of rainwater harvesting structures (Jal Sanchay); development of ground water; and improvement of the water management and distribution systems.

Per Drop More Crop

The Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme includes promoting efficient water conveyance and precision water application devices such as drips, sprinklers, pivots and rain guns in farms, constructing micro irrigation structures to supplement source-creation activities including tube wells and dug wells, installing water lifting devices such as diesel/electric/solar pump sets, building capacity training and awareness campaigns including low-cost publications, empowering extension workers to disseminate relevant technologies under the PMKSY only after requisite training is provided to them, especially in the area of promotion of scientific moisture conservation and agronomic measures and information communication technology (ICT) interventions. An area of 96.83 lakh hectare has been covered under micro irrigation in the country under PDMC from 2015-16 to 2025-26 (till August 2025), with an amount of Rs. 23,232.44 crore (US$ 2.62 billion) released as a central assistance to the states targeting beneficiaries around 8,614.05 thousand.

Watershed Development

Watershed development includes management of runoff water and improved soil and moisture- conservation activities such as ridge area treatment, drainage line five treatment, rainwater harvesting, in-situ moisture conservation and other allied activities on watershed basis. During 2015-2023, under Watershed Development component of PMKSY, 14,966 water harvesting structures have been created/ rejuvenated, and an additional area of about 18,033 hectares has been brought under irrigation in West Bengal.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana - Key Developments

• Under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), the Government continued to promote advanced irrigation technologies such as underground pipelines, micro-irrigation, and SCADA-based monitoring systems to improve water-use efficiency and expand assured irrigation coverage.
• As of December 31, 2025, nine States/UTs had been onboarded on the SNA SPARSH platform for the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY). Under the scheme, mother sanctions worth Rs. 2,092.29 crore (US$ 237.79 million) had been issued to States/UTs, of which Rs. 1,000.58 crore (US$ 113.70 million) had been utilised.
• As on June 2025, the government highlighted transformative outcomes under PMKSY including approval of 1,601 projects, with 1,133 projects operational or completed, creating a food processing capacity of 255.66 lakh metric tonnes per year. These projects are expected to generate investments worth Rs. 21,803 crore (US$ 2.5 billion) and benefit over 50 lakh farmers along with creating over 7.25 lakh direct and indirect jobs. The scheme supports enhanced food safety and quality assurance infrastructure by establishing 100 NABL-accredited private sector food testing labs.
• In April 2025, the Union Cabinet approved Rs. 1,600 crore (US$ 180.3 million) for the sub-scheme Modernization of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM) under PMKSY for the FY26. This approval aims to improve water management and irrigation efficiency across command areas.
• On February 4, 2025, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Mr. Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the national-level mass outreach campaign “Watershed Yatra” to promote awareness and active participation in watershed development activities under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY 2.0).
• In January 2025, Department of Land Resources, announces sanction of 56 new Watershed Development Projects at a cost of Rs. 700 crore (US$ 118 million) under the ongoing Scheme of PMKSY-WDC 2.0, in 10 best performing States viz., Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim. Each project will approximately have an area of 5,000 hectares, but in hill States, it may be lesser. The initiative prioritizes visible field impacts by allocating Rs. 700 crore (US$ 118 million) to cover approximately 2.8 lakh hectares, ensuring timely recovery of degraded land and efficient utilization of funds.
• In October 2020, the Union Minister of State for Waterpower and Social Justice and Empowerment launched a mobile application including information about the work being done under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Scheme.
• In October 2020, the Assam state government launched the Kisan Rath (fruits & vegetables) mobile application to facilitate timely selling of agricultural products by promoting the buyer-seller network.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana – Key Investments

• Under the Union Budget 2026-27, an allocation of Rs. 6,587 crore (US$ 731.89 million) was made for the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. The scheme continues to support irrigation expansion, water-use efficiency, and sustainable water resource management across the agricultural sector.
• In July 2025, the Union Cabinet approved a total outlay of Rs. 6,520 crore (US$ 735 million) for the ongoing Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) during the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26), which includes an additional allocation of Rs. 1,920 crore (US$ 216 million). The budget supports projects like multi-product food irradiation units, food testing labs, mega food parks, agro-processing clusters, and cold chains, aimed at enhancing food processing and preservation capacities, benefiting farmers with better incomes and generating employment.
• The Union Budget 2025-26 allocated Rs. 8,259.85 crore (US$ 964.71 million) to the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), reinforcing the government’s commitment to enhancing irrigation facilities and improving water-use efficiency in India’s agriculture sector.
• For the FY25, the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana has received an allocation of US$ 1.11 billion (Rs. 9,339.37 crore), reflecting a substantial increase from US$ 837.3 million (Rs. 7,031.10 crore) in the previous year.
• In October 2023, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, approved the inclusion of the Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project in Uttarakhand under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP). The project is estimated to cost Rs. 2,584.10 crore (~US$ 310.7 million) and will receive central support of Rs. 1,557.18 crore (~US$ 187.2 million) for completion by March 2028. The project involves constructing a dam across the river Gola, a tributary of the river Ram Ganga, situated in Nainital district. It aims to augment irrigation across 57,065 hectares in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, along with generating 14 MW of hydro power and providing 42.70 million cubic meters of drinking water to Haldwani and nearby areas.
• In March 2021, the Maharashtra state government allocated Rs. 400 crore (~US$ 53.37 million) for various irrigation development corporations for completing various irrigation projects under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and Baliraja Sanjeevani Yojana.
• In February 2021, the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Ministry announced plan to spend half of the budget allocation of Rs. 1,31,531 crore (~US$ 17.55 billion) on the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for FY 2021-22.
• In November 2020, the Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare approved subsidised loans worth Rs. 3,971.31 crore (~US$ 529.93 million) for implementing micro-irrigation projects.
• In June 2020, the Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmer’s Welfare announced an allotment of Rs. 4,000 crore (~US$ 533.76 million) to the state government to implement the ‘Per Drop More Crop’ component under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for FY 2020-21.