In this guide
On 31 March 1958, construction began on a canal meant to do something that seemed almost impossible: bring water from the rivers of Punjab deep into the Thar desert. The Rajasthan Canal, renamed the Indira Gandhi Canal in 1984, became one of the largest canal systems in the world. Today, it irrigates large tracts of north-western Rajasthan, supplies drinking water to towns and villages across the desert, and has changed the landscape — green fields where there were once only dunes. It has also brought serious problems. For RAS, the canal is a classic topic in both geography and economy.
Sources of irrigation in Rajasthan
| Source | Notes |
|---|---|
| Wells and tube wells | The largest source of irrigation; heavy dependence on groundwater |
| Canals | Concentrated in the north-west (IGNP, Gang, Bhakra), Hadoti (Chambal) and the south (Mahi) |
| Tanks | Mostly in the south and south-east |
Rajasthan has about a tenth of India's area but only around 1% of its surface water resources — which is why every canal matters.
The Indira Gandhi Canal: key facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Source | Harike barrage, at the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas in Punjab |
| Water | Mainly from the Ravi–Beas system, stored at dams such as Pong (on the Beas) |
| Feeder canal | About 204 km long, running through Punjab and Haryana into Rajasthan |
| Main canal | From Masitawali Head (Hanumangarh) to Mohangarh (Jaisalmer) — about 445 km |
| Total length (feeder + main) | About 649 km |
| Construction began | 31 March 1958 |
| Renamed | Indira Gandhi Canal — 2 November 1984 |
| Districts benefited | Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Churu, Nagaur and others (irrigation and drinking water) |
Stages
The project was built in two stages: Stage I covered the northern parts (up to about Pugal in Bikaner), and Stage II extended the canal deep into Bikaner, Jaisalmer and beyond.
Lift canals
Because much of the command area lies higher than the canal, several lift canals pump water up to irrigate and supply drinking water. They are named after personalities of Rajasthan and include schemes serving Bikaner, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Churu, Jaisalmer and Barmer (for example, the Kanwar Sen lift canal for Bikaner, and the Rajiv Gandhi lift canal supplying Jodhpur).
Benefits
| Benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Irrigation | Large desert areas brought under cultivation — wheat, mustard, cotton, gram, groundnut, fruits |
| Drinking water | Towns and villages across the desert, including Jodhpur and Bikaner |
| Settlement | New villages; population growth in canal areas |
| Afforestation | Shelterbelts and plantations along the canal |
| Reduced desertification | Stabilisation of dunes in parts of the command area |
| Livestock | Fodder and water for animals |
| Security | Settlement near the border |
Problems
| Problem | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Waterlogging | Seepage and over-irrigation raised water tables, especially in Hanumangarh and Sri Ganganagar |
| Salinity | Rising groundwater brought salts to the surface |
| Health | Standing water increased malaria in some areas |
| Ecological change | Loss of desert habitats; changes in wildlife |
| Unequal distribution | Tail-end areas get less water |
| Water sharing | Dependence on Punjab's rivers; inter-state disputes |
| Canal lining | Old lining damaged; repairs needed to reduce seepage |
Other major irrigation projects
| Project | Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gang Canal | Sri Ganganagar | Built by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner; completed in 1927; takes water from the Sutlej (Hussainiwala, Ferozepur) |
| Bhakra canals | Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar | From the Bhakra–Nangal project |
| Chambal project | Kota, Bundi, Hadoti | Joint Rajasthan–MP project: Gandhi Sagar, Rana Pratap Sagar, Jawahar Sagar dams and the Kota barrage |
| Mahi Bajaj Sagar | Banswara | Irrigation and hydropower in the tribal south; shared with Gujarat |
| Bisalpur | Tonk | Drinking water to Jaipur and Ajmer; irrigation |
| Jawai dam | Pali | Drinking water and irrigation |
| Narmada canal | Jalore, Barmer | Brings Narmada water from Gujarat to south-western Rajasthan |
The Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (PKC-ERCP)
The Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project was proposed to carry surplus monsoon water from the Chambal basin rivers (such as the Kalisindh, Parvati and Kuno) to districts of eastern Rajasthan for drinking water and irrigation. In 2024, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh agreed to merge it with the Parbati–Kalisindh–Chambal river-link project as the modified PKC-ERCP, under the national river-linking programme. It is expected to benefit a large part of eastern Rajasthan.
Practice
Prelims-style:
- From where does the Indira Gandhi Canal originate?
- When was the Rajasthan Canal renamed the Indira Gandhi Canal?
- Where does the main canal end?
- Who built the Gang Canal, and when was it completed?
- Which two states agreed on the modified PKC-ERCP in 2024?
Mains-style (50 words): What are lift canals, and why are they needed in the IGNP?
Mains-style (100 words): Evaluate the benefits and problems of the Indira Gandhi Canal project.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Rajasthan Public Service Commission website .
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