This note briefly describes the appraisal methodology followed by the government in undertaking major irrigation projects in India. It then describes some of the circumstances which led the government to sponsor studies on this aspect of investment decision-making. It also discusses the main results of the sponsored studies before discussing some of the recommendations of the Irrigation Commission of 1972. Finally, it describes different types of administrative structures that have been used for executing some of the major irrigation projects, including a recent project which emphasized "command area development" as an approach to development and utilization of surface irrigation resources.