According to standard Indian geography data, the percentage of irrigated land in India is approximately equal to which of the following values?

Introduction / Context:
Irrigation is a key topic in Indian geography because it directly affects crop reliability, rural livelihoods and food security. Many exam questions ask about the approximate percentage of agricultural land under irrigation in India to test whether learners can recall broad national level figures rather than exact decimal values.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• Four percentage values are provided: 66 percent, 35 percent, 71 percent and 22 percent. • The question asks which figure best represents the percentage of irrigated land in India. • We assume that the figure should match commonly quoted averages in school and competitive exam material.

Concept / Approach:
Historically, only a fraction of India's net sown area has reliable irrigation from canals, tube wells and other sources. Many geography texts and economic surveys state that about one third of the agricultural land is irrigated, which is close to 35 percent. This means most agriculture remains dependent on monsoon rainfall, a key point in understanding Indian farming.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall from your studies that irrigation covers roughly one third of the total cropped area in India. Step 2: Translate one third into a percentage, which is around 33 to 35 percent. Step 3: Compare the options and see that 35 percent is the only value close to this commonly cited range.

Verification / Alternative check:
Economic survey summaries and exam guides repeatedly mention that around 34 to 35 percent of agricultural land in India is irrigated. The much higher values such as 66 or 71 percent do not match these official figures, and 22 percent is clearly too low.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (66 percent) is almost two thirds of all land and would imply a very high level of irrigation that India has not reached. Option C (71 percent) is even higher and is inconsistent with the frequent statement that a large part of agriculture still depends on rainfall. Option D (22 percent) underestimates irrigation and does not match the one third approximation used in textbooks.

Common Pitfalls:
• Learners sometimes mark a higher percentage because they focus on irrigated regions and forget the vast rain fed areas of central and eastern India. • Others guess at random between 22 and 35 percent, so it is important to remember that about one third of the land is irrigated.

Final Answer:
The percentage of irrigated land in India is approximately 35%.