A substantial drought seems to be inflicting Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh after the crucial southwest monsoon concluded with a significant deficiency in the most-affected regions. The national drought framework combines agricultural and hydrological indicators and ground-truthing studies, including before a distressed State can access additional support from the NDRF. In June-September, Karnataka reportedly suffered a close to 35% rainfall deficit. The government has since declared 217 of 240 taluks to be drought-hit with extensive damage to red gram, maize, cotton, and sugarcane cultivation. Andhra Pradesh experienced a shortfall of 53% in June-August and 388 of 688 mandals have been declared drought-hit. Horticulture crops over nearly 18,000 hectares are now at risk. Karnataka has also petitioned the Centre for ₹11,000 crore from the NDRF along with higher input subsidies. Andhra Pradesh has set aside ₹190 crore to protect horticultural crops and has directed drinking water conservation. The summer monsoon had its poorest showing since 2015 this year. There have been warnings of the effects of the strengthening El Niño, although an attribution study elucidating the strength of causal relationships in the present instance is pending.
In a previous era, drought declarations were beset by subjective claims, sometimes exaggerated to maximise state support. Since 2009, however, the Manual for Drought Management and updates to it and Finance Commission decisions have tightened the process. While States still have some incentives to expand their declarations, the Centre has also resisted releasing NDRF assistance before, including with Karnataka in 2024, while also increasing their own relief obligations. The Centre must desist from frustrating States and release support as soon as the findings of the Inter-Ministerial Central Team have been publicly verified. In addition to mitigating indebtedness among farmers and expanding access to relief beyond land ownership, the States also need more discipline vis-à-vis storing water and rationalising consumption. Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have offered incentives and advisories, including to adopt micro-irrigation and to cultivate less water-intensive crops, but have not imposed binding limits. The Centre may also consider incentives to resist drought, even in the face of a deficient monsoon, because the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has been warning of expanding drought-like conditions in South Asia, and broadening agricultural insurance. It must certainly not use the prospect of the more protracted, more imprudent river-interlinking project as an excuse to overlook pro-resilience aims such as sustainably using groundwater and choosing crops based on local rainfall and aquifers and availability of income support.
Published – October 13, 2026 12:10 am IST
