UPSC Civil Services 2015 Prelims General Studies Paper I

The Command Area development programme was launched in 1974-75 as a centrally sponsored scheme and its main objective was to improve the utilization of the created irrigation potential and optimizing the agricultural production and productivity from the irrigated lands. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) was launched during 1996- 1997 to give loan assistance to the States to help them complete some of the incomplete major/medium irrigation projects which were at an advanced stage of completion and to create additional irrigation potential in the country.