Watershed Development Component 2.0 of PMKSY | 14 Jan 2025

Why in News?
The Ministry of Rural Development sanctioned 56 new Watershed Development Projects under the Watershed Development Component 2.0 of Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojna (PMKSY-WDC 2.0), in 10 best performing States.
10 States include Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim covering around 2.8 lakh hectares of degraded land.

Note: In 2021-22, 1150 projects covering an area of about 50 Lakh hectares were sanctioned under PMKSY-WDC 2.0.

About: PMKSY-WDC 2.0 is a sub-component of the overarching PMKSY initiative for conserving water and soil resources.
Background: The scheme started as the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) in 2009-10 and merged into the Watershed Development Component of PMKSY (PMKSY-WDC) in 2015-16.
- PMKSY-WDC 2.0 was launched for 2021-2026 with enhanced targets and revised guidelines.
Objectives: Enhance rainfed and degraded land productivity through integrated watershed management.
- Strengthen community institutions for livelihoods and watershed sustainability.
- Boost watershed project efficiency via cross-learning and incentives.
Targets: The scheme targets coverage of 49.50 lakh hectares of degraded land between 2021-2026.
- Rejuvenation of springsheds has been added as a new activity.
Approach (Next-Generation Focus): Emphasize water productivity over quantity and transition from mechanical treatments to biological measures.
- Promote crop diversification and integrated farming systems like horticulture, fisheries, apiculture, and animal husbandry.

About: Launched in 2015-16 by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, PMKSY aims to improve water access for farming, expand irrigated areas, enhance water use efficiency, and promote sustainable water conservation.
- It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a 75:25 Centre-State share, and 90:10 for the north-eastern and hilly states.
Components: It consists of two major components being implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP): AIBP aims to focus on faster completion of ongoing Major and Medium Irrigation including National Projects.
- Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP): HKKP consists of four sub-components.

PMKSY also consists of two other components being implemented by other Ministries:
- Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
- Watershed Development component (WDC) of PMKSY by the Ministry of Rural Development.

Q. With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term ‘Araghatta’ refers to (2016)

(a) bonded labour

(b) land grants made to military officers

(c) waterwheel used in the irrigation of land

(d) wasteland converted to cultivated land

Ans: (c)

Q. Consider the following statements: (2015)

The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme was launched during 1996-97 to provide loan
assistance to poor farmers.
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?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (b)