What are the benefits of implementing the 'Integrated Watershed Development Programme'?
- 1.Prevention of soil runoff
- 2.Linking the country's perennial rivers with seasonal rivers
- 3.Rainwater harvesting and recharge of groundwater table
- 4.Regeneration of natural vegetation
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) 1, 3 and 4 only
The official description of the watershed programme lists its outcomes as prevention of soil run-off, regeneration of natural vegetation, rainwater harvesting and recharge of the groundwater table. Linking perennial rivers with seasonal rivers belongs to river-interlinking projects, not watershed development. So statements 1, 3 and 4 are benefits, and the answer is (c).
- ✓ 1. Prevention of soil run-off is a stated outcome of the programme. Watershed management involves preventing run-off from the land.
- ✗ 2. Watershed development manages and conserves surface water and groundwater within a local catchment. It does not link rivers. Interlinking of rivers is a separate water-transfer idea.
- ✓ 3. Rainwater harvesting and recharge of the groundwater table is a listed outcome. It is achieved through methods such as percolation tanks and recharge wells.
- ✓ 4. Regeneration of natural vegetation is a listed outcome of the programme.
- • Since then IWMP began in 2009-10. In 2015-16 it was amalgamated into the Watershed Development Component of PMKSY (WDC-PMKSY). The answer for the exam year is unchanged.
Remember · Watershed programme outcomes: less soil run-off, regenerated natural vegetation, rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge. River-linking is not part of it.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 12 India: People and Economy, Ch 4 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), Siaha District, Mizoram (NIC) ↗ “The outcomes are prevention of soil run-off, regeneration of natural vegetation, rain water harvesting and recharging of ground water table.”
- NCERT Class 12 · India: People and Economy, Chapter 4 “Watershed management basically refers to efficient management and conservation of surface and groundwater resources. It involves prevention of runoff and storage and recharge of groundwater through various methods like percolation tanks, recharge wells, etc.”
- WDC-PMKSY, Department of Land Resources – About Us ↗ “The Department has been implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) 'Integrated Watershed Management Programme' (IWMP) since 2009-10, which was amalgamated as the Watershed Development Component of PMKSY (WDC-PMKSY) in 2015-16.”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2014, General Studies Paper I. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·
