Consider the following statements regarding Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme:

Question

Consider the following statements regarding Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) Scheme:

1. The PDMC Scheme focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at the farm level through Micro Irrigation.

2. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme

3. It is implemented under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana

4. Financial Assistance @ 55% for Small & Marginal farmers and 45% for other farmers is provided by the government for the installation of Micro Irrigation under the Scheme.

How many of the above statement/s is/are correct?

1. A. Only one statement
2. B. Only two statements
3. C. Only three statements (Correct answer)
4. D. All the four statements

Correct Answer

Option C — Only three statements

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Only three statements.

Key Points

• Statement 1 is correct. The Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme focuses on improving water use efficiency at the farm level through micro irrigation — drip and sprinkler systems.
• Statement 2 is correct. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with costs shared between the Centre and the states.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. PDMC was a component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) until 2022, when its implementation was shifted to the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. This is the change the question turns on.
• Statement 4 is correct. Financial assistance is given at 55% for small and marginal farmers and 45% for other farmers towards the installation of micro irrigation systems.

Additional Information

• Micro irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone in measured quantities, cutting conveyance and evaporation losses. Reported savings run to 20–48% of water, with parallel gains in fertiliser efficiency through fertigation, and yield increases of 20–38%.
• PMKSY was launched in 2015 with the motto *"Har Khet Ko Pani"* and the objective of end-to-end solutions in the irrigation supply chain. Its components were the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP), Har Khet Ko Pani, Per Drop More Crop and Watershed Development.
• The Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF), with an initial corpus of ₹5,000 crore created with NABARD, gives states concessional finance to expand coverage beyond the PDMC provisions.
• India's irrigation profile: groundwater accounts for the larger share of net irrigated area, and agriculture consumes around 80% of the country's water. Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh have the highest levels of irrigation intensity, and the sharpest groundwater depletion.
• Related programmes: the Atal Bhujal Yojana for participatory groundwater management, watershed development under PMKSY 2.0, and the command area development works under AIBP.