14 October: micro-irrigation and water
Wednesday 14 October 2026
GS Paper 3 · 150 words · 10 marks
How and to what extent would micro-irrigation help in solving India's water crisis?
(UPSC Mains 2021, GS Paper 3, Q4)
Set a timer for 7 minutes. Write your answer before you read anything below.
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How to approach this question
What the question asks.
| Part | What to write |
|---|---|
| How | The mechanism: water goes to the root, less is lost |
| To what extent | How far this goes, and what it cannot fix |
| India's water crisis | Groundwater depletion and stress, mostly from farming |
A shape that works in 150 words.
- One line on the crisis, with a source.
- How micro-irrigation saves water, with a scheme.
- Its limits, three of them.
- A judgement and what must go with it.
What to avoid.
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Efficiency figures you are not sure of | Explain the mechanism in words |
| Only benefits | Give the limits their own heading |
| Treating the whole crisis as a farm problem | Say micro-irrigation addresses the farm part |
| Ending on "micro-irrigation is the way forward" | Say what it must be paired with |
A model answer
NITI Aayog's Composite Water Management Index (2018) found 600 million Indians facing high to extreme water stress. Farming uses most of India's water.
How it helps
- Drip and sprinkler systems deliver water to the root zone. Less is lost to evaporation and run-off.
- Less pumping slows the fall of groundwater tables.
- Fertiliser can be applied through the same pipes, which raises yields.
The Per Drop More Crop part of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (2015) subsidises these systems. Gujarat Green Revolution Company has spread drip across the state.
How far
- Upfront cost is high for small and marginal farmers.
- Free or cheap farm power encourages pumping whatever the method.
- Farmers often use saved water to irrigate more land.
- Water-hungry crops such as paddy and sugarcane remain.
Conclusion
Micro-irrigation solves part of the farm problem. It works fully only with metered power and support for less thirsty crops.
Word count: 148.
Why this answer works. It answers both parts under their own headings. The limits explain why savings on one farm may not reach the aquifer. The conclusion names two measures to pair with it.
Where it could be stronger. One state example of water saved under drip, with a source, would make the "how" section stronger.