UPSC Prelims 2015 · Question 62 of 98
UPSC Prelims 2015 question on Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Command Area
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2015
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectIndian Economy
- TopicAgriculture Economy
- DifficultyHard
- TypeStatement
Consider the following statements:
1. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme was launched during 1996-97 to provide loan assistance to poor farmers.
2. The Command Area Development Programme was launched in 1974-75 for the development of water-use efficiency.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Answer: B. 2 only
Verdict
The answer is 2 only. The Command Area Development Programme did aim at water use efficiency, but the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme did not provide loans to poor farmers.
Analysis
Statement 2 is CORRECT. The Command Area Development Programme was initiated in December 1974 as a centrally sponsored scheme to improve utilisation of irrigation potential and to optimise agricultural production through integrated and efficient water management. Statement 1 is INCORRECT in its beneficiary. AIBP was launched in 1996-97 to provide Central Loan Assistance to State governments for major and medium irrigation projects that were beyond the resource capability of the States or were nearing completion. The assistance went to projects and State governments, not to poor farmers.
Source
Ministry of Water Resources scheme material.
How to crack it
Read scheme statements for the beneficiary as carefully as for the objective, since substituting the beneficiary is the standard way UPSC falsifies an otherwise accurate sentence. A programme whose name contains project or infrastructure language almost always assists governments and works, while a programme aimed at individuals says so in its title. Ask of each scheme: who receives the money, for what unit of activity, and from which level of government.