Q1. [4]
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
Floods have not only devastated life and property but also caused extensive soil erosion. Sedimentation also meant that the flood plains were deprived of silt, a natural fertilizer, further adding on to the problem of land degradation. It was also observed that the multipurpose projects induced earthquakes, caused water-borne diseases and pests and pollution resulting from excessive use of water.
Irrigation has also changed the cropping pattern of many regions with farmers shifting to water intensive and commercial crops. This has great ecological consequences like salinisation of the soil.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana has been started which ensures access to some means to protective irrigation for all agricultural farms in the country, thus bringing much desired rural prosperity. Some of the broad objectives of this programme are to enhance the physical access of water on the farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation (har khet ko pani), improve on farm water, use efficiency to reduce wastage and increase availability both in duration and extent, irrigation and other water saving technologies (per drop more crop) and introduce sustainable water conservation practices, etc.
Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow :
- 18.1 Explain the role of floods in land degradation. [1]
- 18.2 How has irrigation changed cropping pattern ? [1]
- 18.3 Explain any two objectives of the 'Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana'. [2]
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2026 32/5/1 Q18
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:04 · grounding stimulus
Model Answer
18.1 Floods cause extensive soil erosion and lead to sedimentation. This deprives flood plains of silt — a natural fertilizer — thus contributing to land degradation.
18.2 Irrigation has shifted farmers towards water-intensive and commercial crops. This has led to ecological consequences like salinisation of the soil, degrading agricultural land.
18.3 Two objectives of PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana:
- Har Khet Ko Pani: To enhance physical access of water on the farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation.
- Per Drop More Crop: To improve on-farm water use efficiency, reduce wastage, and promote water-saving irrigation technologies and sustainable water conservation practices.
Source: Water Resources, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (extract)
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Explanation
- 18.1 focuses on the two-step process: soil erosion + loss of silt = land degradation. Both points needed for full credit.
- 18.2 The key terms examiners look for are "water-intensive/commercial crops" and "salinisation."
- 18.3 Use the scheme's own slogans (har khet ko pani, per drop more crop) — examiners reward these as they are from the prescribed text. Each objective should be explained briefly, not just named.
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