2016 · GS Paper 3 · Q7 · 12 marks
What is water-use efficiency? Describe the role of micro-irrigation in increasing the water-use efficiency.
In short
Water-use efficiency is crop yield per unit of water used, and micro-irrigation raises it by delivering measured water to the root zone with minimal evaporation and runoff. Drip reaches about 90% application efficiency against roughly 35-40% for flood irrigation.
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 281 words
Flood irrigation
Flooded fields lose water to evaporation, runoff and deep percolation, while unlined canals lose more to seepage.
Water-hungry crops
NITI Aayog's Composite Water Management Index (2018) noted India uses two to four times more water per unit of food crop than China or Brazil.
No price signal
Free or flat-rate farm power and nominal canal charges give farmers no reason to save water.
Water to the root
Drip and sprinkler deliver measured water through emitters and nozzles, cutting the evaporation and runoff that waste flood irrigation.
More crop per drop
Saved water irrigates more area, and fertigation raises yields in sugarcane, cotton and vegetables.
Marginal land and energy
Drip serves sloping and sandy soils, and pumping less water saves power, especially with PM-KUSUM solar pumps.
Scale in India
About 109 lakh hectares came under Per Drop More Crop since 2015-16 (PIB, 2026), and Karnataka's Ramthal project shows community-scale drip.
This model answer is indicative and the model can make mistakes; please verify key facts independently.
Practise this question
1Get the answer sheet
Sized for this question.
2Write your answer
Timed, by hand.
3Get it marked
Your score and what to fix.
This chapter in the exam
Irrigation5 questions
Asked in 5 of 14 sittings since 2013
- 2024What are the major challenges faced by Indian irrigation system in recent times? State the measures taken by the government for efficient irrigation management.
- 2021How and to what extent would micro-irrigation help in solving India's water crisis ?
All 5 questions, sorted by sub-topic, with model answers and practice.
Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2016 paper. Answer written by Ghissu's engine and checked against our editorial standards. Found an error? Tell us and we correct it within 48 hours.