UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Union Agriculture Minister in Lok Sabha: Incomplete Irrigation Schemes and River-Linking Projects Back on Track under Our Government

Q1. The National Perspective Plan (1980), the basis of India's river-linking programme, is best described as a plan exclusively for which one of the following?

  • A. Inter-basin transfer of water from surplus basins to water-deficit basins
  • B. Inter-state allocation of groundwater through statutory tribunals
  • C. Desilting and rejuvenation of all major peninsular rivers
  • D. Linking of canal networks solely within a single river basin

Q2. Under the National Perspective Plan, which agency is the nodal body that identified the 30 river links and prepares their Feasibility Reports?

  • A. National Water Development Agency (NWDA)
  • B. Central Water Commission (CWC)
  • C. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)
  • D. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

Q3. The Ken-Betwa Link National Project envisages transfer of surplus water from which river to which river?

  • A. From the Ken to the Betwa
  • B. From the Betwa to the Ken
  • C. From the Ken to the Yamuna
  • D. From the Betwa to the Sone

Q4. Which one of the following is the first project under the National Perspective Plan for inter-linking of rivers to enter the implementation stage?

  • A. Ken-Betwa Link Project
  • B. Kosi-Mechi Intra-State Link Project
  • C. Par-Tapi-Narmada Link Project
  • D. Godavari-Cauvery (Grand Anicut) Link Project

Q5. With reference to the components of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and their implementing agencies, consider the following: 1. Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme — Ministry of Jal Shakti 2. Watershed Development Component — Ministry of Rural Development 3. Har Khet Ko Pani — Ministry of Jal Shakti 4. Per Drop More Crop — Ministry of Jal Shakti Which of the above are correctly identified?

  1. Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme — Ministry of Jal Shakti
  2. Watershed Development Component — Ministry of Rural Development
  3. Har Khet Ko Pani — Ministry of Jal Shakti
  4. Per Drop More Crop — Ministry of Jal Shakti
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 4

Q6. Within PMKSY, which is the major component — implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti alongside AIBP — that comprises the sub-components Command Area Development & Water Management, Surface Minor Irrigation, RRR of Water Bodies and Ground Water Development?

  • A. Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP)
  • B. Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
  • C. Watershed Development Component (WDC)
  • D. Command Area Development & Water Management (CAD&WM)

Q7. The 99 prioritized incomplete major/medium irrigation projects under PMKSY-AIBP are implemented and funded under which Ministry/Department?

  • A. Ministry of Jal Shakti (Department of Water Resources, RD & GR)
  • B. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (Department of Agriculture)
  • C. Ministry of Rural Development (Department of Land Resources)
  • D. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Q8. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), under which the 99 projects were prioritized, is best defined as a programme that does which one of the following?

  • A. Provides central financial assistance to expedite completion of selected ongoing major/medium irrigation projects
  • B. Provides 100% central grants solely for micro-irrigation on individual farms
  • C. Compensates farmers for crop loss in irrigation-deficit districts
  • D. Funds only the construction of new inter-state hydropower dams

Q9. The Kosi-Mechi Intra-State Link Project, included under PMKSY-AIBP in March 2025, will provide irrigation to areas in how many districts of Bihar?

  • A. Four
  • B. Two
  • C. Six
  • D. Eight

Q10. 'Bharat-VISTAAR', the multilingual AI advisory tool integrating AgriStack and ICAR's package of practices, was proposed under which one of the following?

  • A. Union Budget 2026-27
  • B. Union Budget 2024-25
  • C. Economic Survey 2025-26
  • D. NITI Aayog's Vision 2047 document

Q11. The on-farm water-use 'Per Drop More Crop' component of PMKSY is led primarily by which Ministry?

  • A. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
  • B. Ministry of Jal Shakti
  • C. Ministry of Rural Development
  • D. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Q12. Under the National Mission on Natural Farming, the Centre:State funding ratio is the highest for which category of States?

  • A. Hilly and North-Eastern States — 90:10
  • B. All other (general category) States — 60:40
  • C. Union Territories without legislature — 50:50
  • D. Aspirational-district States — 75:25