Question 1

Multiple river interlinking projects are already fully operational in India.

Accepted Answer

Most of the 30 identified links are still in the Feasibility Report (FR) or Detailed Project Report (DPR) stages; Ken-Betwa is the primary link currently in active implementation.

Question 2

The Himalayan rivers are the primary focus of the active interlinking projects.

Accepted Answer

The Peninsular component has seen far more progress, with projects like Ken-Betwa, MPKC-ERCP, and Godavari-Cauvery being prioritized over the complex international and ecological challenges of Himalayan links.

Question 3

Consider the following statements regarding the Interlinking of Rivers scheme in India:
1. The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) is responsible for implementing river interlinking under the National Perspective Plan (NPP).
2. The Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (MPKC) project integrates with the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) for intra-basin and inter-basin water transfer.
3. Actual expenditure under the Interlinking of Rivers scheme exceeded 75 percent of the Budget Estimates during the 2025-26 financial year due to fast-tracked implementation.
How many of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

(b) Only two — Statement 1 is correct; NWDA handles the NPP formulated in 1980. Statement 2 is correct; the PKC link was merged with ERCP to form the Modified PKC-ERCP link benefiting MP and Rajasthan. Statement 3 is incorrect; the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources in March 2026 noted massive underutilization, with actual expenditure being roughly 25 percent of the revised estimates (Rs 453.16 crore against Rs 1,808 crore) up to December 2025.

Question 4

Match the river link projects (List I) with their corresponding primary beneficiary states/regions (List II):
List I
A. Ken-Betwa Link
B. Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal (MPKC)
C. Kosi-Mechi Link
D. Damanganga-Pinjal Link

List II
1. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan
2. Maharashtra
3. Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh
4. Bihar

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Accepted Answer

(a) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2 — The Ken-Betwa link primarily targets the drought-prone Bundelkhand region spanning UP and MP (A-3). The Modified PKC (with ERCP) is an agreement between MP and Rajasthan (B-1). The Kosi-Mechi link is an intra-state/inter-state project primarily benefiting Bihar and Nepal (C-4). The Damanganga-Pinjal link aims to augment the drinking water supply for Mumbai, Maharashtra (D-2).

Question 5

Assertion (A): The Parliamentary Standing Committee observed significant delays in fund utilization for the interlinking of rivers scheme in 2025-26.
Reason (R): Sluggish progress in state-level components, particularly delays in the construction of the Daudhan Dam and canal renovation works in Uttar Pradesh, hindered project execution.
Select the correct answer:

Accepted Answer

(a) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A. — The Parliamentary panel highlighted that actual spending up to December 2025 was just Rs 453.16 crore out of the revised Rs 1,808.29 crore budget. The Department of Water Resources explicitly attributed this shortfall to multiple factors, notably the delays in the construction of the Daudhan Dam, slow progress in state-level components, and ongoing canal renovation works in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Thus, the reason correctly explains the assertion.

Parliamentary Panel Flags River Interlinking Project Delays

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