General Studies 2024 GS Paper III 15 marks 250 words Compulsory State

Q13

What are the major challenges faced by Indian irrigation system in recent times? State the measures taken by the government for efficient irrigation management. (Answer in 250 words) 15

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

हाल के दिनों में भारतीय सिंचाई प्रणाली के सामने क्या प्रमुख चुनौतियाँ हैं? कुशल सिंचाई प्रबंधन के लिए सरकार द्वारा अपनाए गए उपायों को बताइए। (उत्तर 250 शब्दों में दीजिए)

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Directive word: State

This question asks you to state. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'state' requires a clear, systematic presentation of facts without elaborate argumentation. Structure the answer with a brief contextual introduction, followed by two distinct sections: first enumerate major challenges (physical, institutional, and efficiency-related), then list government measures (PMKSY, MIS, AIBP, etc.), and conclude with forward-looking synthesis on sustainable water governance.

Key points expected

Depletion of groundwater tables and falling water tables in Punjab, Haryana, and western UP due to paddy-wheat monoculture
Poor maintenance of canal networks, siltation, and low water use efficiency (~35-40% in surface irrigation)
Inter-state water disputes and delayed project completion (cost overruns in AIBP projects)
PMKSY with its 'More Crop Per Drop' focus, including MIS, SMI, and drip/sprinkler promotion
Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM) and Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) through WUAs
Digital initiatives like PMKSY (WD) with IoT-based monitoring and JALDOOT app for groundwater assessment

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Demand-directive understanding	20%	3	Clearly distinguishes between 'challenges' (problems) and 'measures' (solutions) in separate, balanced sections; maintains factual, declarative tone appropriate to 'state' without drifting into opinion	Addresses both parts but conflates challenges with measures or uses argumentative tone; minor imbalance in coverage	Misinterprets directive as 'discuss' or 'analyse'; fails to separate the two components or omits one entirely
Content depth & accuracy	20%	3	Covers 5-6 specific challenges (groundwater, efficiency, maintenance, disputes, climate change) and 4-5 concrete measures (PMKSY sub-components, AIBP, PIM, MIS) with accurate scheme names and targets	Mentions 3-4 challenges and 2-3 measures with generic descriptions; some scheme names incorrect or outdated	Superficial listing of 1-2 challenges and measures; factual errors (e.g., confusing PMKSY with older schemes) or irrelevant content
Structure & flow	20%	3	Clear two-part structure with distinct headings/subheadings; smooth transition from problems to solutions; logical progression within each section (resource → infrastructure → institutional)	Basic structure present but headings unclear or transition abrupt; some mixing of challenges and measures within paragraphs	Disorganized, paragraph-less text or random sequencing; no visual separation between challenges and measures
Examples / case-law / data	20%	3	Specific data: India uses 2-4x water per unit crop vs global average; 60% irrigation from groundwater; PMKSY target 10 million ha under MIS; cites state examples (Gujarat's Jyotigram, Andhra's PIM success)	One or two generic statistics (e.g., 'agriculture uses 80% water') without specificity; mentions schemes without targets or outcomes	No data, examples, or scheme specifics; purely descriptive without empirical anchoring
Conclusion & analytical edge	20%	3	Brief but sharp conclusion linking challenges to measures (e.g., 'MIS addresses groundwater depletion'); suggests way forward (aquifer mapping, crop diversification, pricing reforms) within word limit	Generic conclusion ('government should do more') without linkage to preceding content; no forward-looking element	Missing conclusion or abrupt ending; repetitive summary without synthesis; exceeds word limit significantly

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