Maharashtra cannot formally declare a kharif drought before October because the Manual for Drought Management requires assessment after the monsoon ends, when final rainfall, sown area, crop condition and reservoir data are available. Although Marathwada recorded a rainfall deficit of about 37% between June and September 2026, the state has said crop damage will be formally assessed only after 5 October. A declaration then opens the door to relief from the SDRF and, for severe drought, the NDRF.
Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Disaster and disaster management; Agriculture: irrigation, crop patterns; GS Paper 1 – Distribution of key natural resources
Prelims: Medium – Manual for Drought Management, drought indicators, NDRF/SDRF
Last updated: 25 September 2026
Context
Large parts of Maharashtra, especially Marathwada, went through a long dry spell during the 2026 monsoon. Reports indicate a deficit of around 37% in Marathwada and about 16% for the state as a whole from June to September, with Latur receiving under half its normal rainfall and Dharashiv and Parbhani about 55–56%. Farmers and Opposition parties demanded an immediate drought declaration, but officials said the formal assessment would begin only after 5 October in line with the applicable norms.
What Is Drought?
Drought is a slow-onset disaster caused by a prolonged shortage of rainfall. The Manual distinguishes three types:
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Meteorological | Rainfall significantly below the long-period average over an area |
| Hydrological | Depletion of surface and groundwater: reservoirs, rivers, wells |
| Agricultural | Soil moisture and rainfall inadequate for crop growth, leading to crop stress and yield loss |
How Drought Is Declared: Manual for Drought Management
The Manual for Drought Management (2016, updated in 2020) by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare sets out a scientific, multi-indicator process. States declare drought; the Centre provides assistance.
| Step | Indicators used |
|---|---|
| Trigger 1: Meteorological | Rainfall deviation, Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI) and dry-spell length |
| Trigger 2: Impact indicators | Agriculture (sown area, crop condition), remote sensing (vegetation indices such as NDVI), soil moisture, hydrology (reservoir storage, groundwater) |
| Ground truthing | Field verification through sample crop-cutting surveys |
| Classification | Moderate or severe drought based on the combination of indicators |
| Declaration | State government notification, typically at taluka/block level, valid for up to six months |
Why October?
- The southwest monsoon officially ends on 30 September; total seasonal rainfall is known only after that.
- Late-season rain can revive standing crops, so an early declaration may misjudge the damage.
- Crop condition, sown area and reservoir storage are clear only by October; the Manual advises states to declare kharif drought by end-October.
- This timeline also gives the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) time to visit and assess losses before NDRF assistance is approved.
Relief Architecture
- SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) is the first source of relief; the Centre contributes 75% (90% for north-eastern and Himalayan states).
- NDRF (National Disaster Response Fund) supplements the SDRF for severe drought after the state submits a memorandum and the IMCT reports.
- Relief includes input subsidy to farmers, drinking water supply, fodder, MGNREGS extra workdays (up to 150 days in notified drought areas) and loan restructuring.
- Maharashtra also uses satellite-based tools such as MahaMADAT (MRSAC) for drought assessment.
Issues and Criticism
- The strict timeline can delay relief when distress is already visible, since farmers need help before the harvest fails.
- Many revenue circles fall short while taluka averages stay normal, so the level at which drought is assessed matters.
- Declaration is linked to relief budgets, so political factors can influence timing.
- Excess rainfall and crop damage (“wet drought”) is not covered by the drought framework.
Way Forward
- Declare drought for partial seasons or on a rolling basis where indicators cross severe thresholds early.
- Assess at revenue-circle level using high-resolution satellite data.
- Pay insurance claims faster under PMFBY using technology-based yield estimation.
- Build long-term resilience through watershed development (Jalyukt Shivar-type programmes), micro-irrigation and crop diversification away from water-intensive crops like sugarcane in Marathwada.
Conclusion
The October timeline exists to make drought declarations evidence-based. The problem is that farmers’ distress does not wait for an administrative deadline. India’s drought policy needs both rigour and speed, and must shift from paying relief after the damage to building resilience before it.
Key Facts for Prelims
- Manual for Drought Management: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, 2016 (updated 2020).
- Drought is declared by the state government; the Centre assists through the NDRF after an IMCT visit.
- Indicators: rainfall (SPI, dry spell), vegetation indices (NDVI), soil moisture, sown area, hydrology.
- Drought declaration is valid for up to six months unless revoked.
- Centre’s share in SDRF: 75% (90% for NE and Himalayan states).
- Marathwada deficit 2026: about 37% (June–September).
Mains Practice Question
Q. The Manual for Drought Management has made drought declaration more scientific but not necessarily more responsive. Discuss with reference to recent rainfall deficits in Maharashtra. (15 marks, 250 words)
Approach: Explain the Manual’s indicators and timeline. Use the 2026 Marathwada deficit. Show the tension between rigour and timeliness. Suggest revenue-circle assessment, faster PMFBY and resilience measures.
FAQs
Why can’t Maharashtra declare drought before October?
Under the Manual for Drought Management, kharif drought is assessed after the monsoon ends on 30 September, when final rainfall, sown area, crop condition and reservoir data are available. Maharashtra has said crop damage will be assessed after 5 October.
Who declares drought in India?
State governments declare drought through a notification based on the indicators in the Manual for Drought Management. The Union government provides additional financial assistance through the NDRF for severe drought.
What indicators are used to declare drought?
Rainfall deviation, Standardised Precipitation Index and dry spells as triggers, followed by impact indicators such as sown area, crop condition, vegetation indices like NDVI, soil moisture and reservoir or groundwater levels, and field verification.
How severe is the 2026 rainfall deficit in Marathwada?
Reports show Marathwada received about 37% less rain than normal between June and September 2026, with Latur getting under half its average rainfall.
What relief is available after drought is declared?
Relief from the SDRF and, for severe drought, the NDRF includes input subsidy for farmers, drinking water and fodder supply, extra MGNREGS workdays and loan restructuring.
Sources: Manual for Drought Management (NIDM); Aryan Age on Marathwada deficit; MRSAC MahaMADAT.
Related reading on GSMitra: Delhi Declaration on drylands, Green India Mission CAG audit, Cyclone Arnab 2026.
Revise this topic with a custom test in the GSMitra MCQ Test Builder, or get your Mains answers on it evaluated 1:1 through GSMitra mentorship.