RAS question
Which of the following correctly describes the distinction between 'Major and Medium Irrigation' and 'Minor Irrigation' projects in India?
Correct answer: (A) Major: CCA > 10,000 ha; Medium: CCA 2,000–10,000 ha; Minor: CCA < 2,000 ha.
In India, irrigation projects are classified by Culturable Command Area as major when CCA is more than 10,000 ha, medium when CCA is between 2,000 ha and 10,000 ha, and minor when CCA is less than 2,000 ha.
Explanation
The distinction rests on Culturable Command Area, not on the physical size of a dam or canal alone. The Central Water Commission's Project Appraisal Organisation states the classification clearly: major irrigation projects have CCA of more than 10,000 ha, medium projects have CCA between 2,000 ha and 10,000 ha, and minor projects have CCA of less than 2,000 ha. That makes option A the only complete match. The existing RAS explanation also matters because minor irrigation can include both surface and groundwater schemes such as tanks, tubewells and check dams, while the CCA cut-off helps in planning, funding responsibility and AIBP eligibility.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) It wrongly lowers every cut-off: major irrigation is above 10,000 ha CCA, medium starts at 2,000 ha, and minor is below 2,000 ha, not below 1,000 ha.
- (C) It inflates the categories by treating 20,000 ha as the major threshold and 5,000 ha as the minor cut-off, whereas the official CCA break is 10,000 ha and 2,000 ha.
- (D) It gets the major threshold right but misclassifies the lower bands, because medium irrigation begins at 2,000 ha CCA and minor irrigation is below 2,000 ha.
Concept
This tests the irrigation-project classification used in Indian geography and public policy questions. It recurs in RAS because CCA thresholds connect physical geography with planning, funding and programme eligibility.