Drought report

Why in the News

Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh face substantial drought after a deficient southwest monsoon, and both seek extra central help from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). That help now waits on the findings of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), so relief timing rests with the Centre.

How does a State get central drought aid?

1. What it is: The national drought framework weighs agricultural and hydrological indicators and ground truthing, or field checks, before a State gets extra NDRF support. It works like a surveyor checking an insurance claim.
2. Why it was tightened: Declarations were once beset by subjective, sometimes exaggerated claims. Since 2009, the Manual for Drought Management, its updates and Finance Commission decisions have tightened them.
3. Central verification: An IMCT of officials from several Union ministries visits the State. It verifies the reported losses before aid is approved.
4. Central reluctance: The Centre has resisted releasing NDRF aid before, including to Karnataka in 2024, and has increased States’ own relief obligations.
5. The takeaway: A stricter process curbs inflated claims, but it can delay aid when drought is real.

How severe is the drought in the two States?

1. Karnataka’s deficit: Karnataka reportedly suffered a rainfall deficit close to 35% in June to September, damaging red gram, maize, cotton and sugarcane.
2. Karnataka’s declaration: It has declared 217 of 240 taluks drought hit and petitioned the Centre for NDRF aid and higher input subsidies.
3. Andhra Pradesh’s shortfall: Andhra Pradesh recorded a 53% shortfall in June to August, and over half its mandals are declared drought hit.
4. Andhra Pradesh’s response: Horticulture crops are at risk, so the State has set aside funds to protect them and directed drinking water conservation.
5. Weak monsoon: The 2026 summer monsoon was the poorest since 2015, amid warnings of a strengthening El Nino. A study attributing this drought to it is pending.

Why is drought more than a funding question?

1. Debt and tenancy: Drought deepens farmer indebtedness, and relief tied to land ownership leaves out tenant farmers.
2. Advice without limits: Both States offer incentives and advisories for micro-irrigation and less water intensive crops, but impose no binding limits on water use.
3. Rising climate risk: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns of expanding drought conditions in South Asia, so deficient monsoons will recur.
4. Interlinking distraction: The protracted river interlinking project should not displace sustainable groundwater use and crops suited to local rainfall and aquifers.

Challenges

1. Narrow relief norms: Input subsidy under disaster relief norms is paid only where crop loss reaches 33% or more, leaving moderate losses uncovered.
2. Slow release: Central aid follows a State memorandum, the IMCT visit and a High Level Committee decision, often months after crops fail.
3. Insurance gaps: Enrolment in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has been voluntary since 2020, and several States have at times opted out of it.
4. Groundwater stress: Rain fed farms fall back on depleting aquifers in dry years, which deepens the next drought.

Way Forward

1. Verified, prompt release: The Centre should release support as soon as the IMCT findings are publicly verified.
2. Relief beyond ownership: States should extend drought relief to tenant farmers and act on farm indebtedness.
3. Binding water discipline: States should store water and ration consumption through binding limits, not advisories alone.
4. Resilience incentives: The Centre should reward drought resilience even in deficient monsoons and broaden agricultural insurance.
5. Crop and income support: Match crops to local rainfall and aquifers, with income support for farmers who switch.

Conclusion

Relief for Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh now hinges on how quickly the Centre acts. Beyond this season, the test is whether States impose binding water limits and the Centre rewards resilience instead of waiting on river interlinking.

Key numbers

1. Karnataka’s NDRF request: Rs 11,000 crore.
2. Andhra Pradesh mandals declared drought hit: 388 of 688.
3. Andhra Pradesh horticulture: nearly 18,000 hectares at risk; Rs 190 crore set aside.

Back2Basics: National Disaster Response Fund

1. Statutory basis: The Fund is constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and held by the Centre to supplement a State’s own response.
2. Link with the State fund: A State first meets relief from its State Disaster Response Fund, and the NDRF is used when that is inadequate for a severe disaster.
3. Financing: It is financed by a cess and budgetary support, and audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
4. Coverage: It covers notified disasters including drought, cyclone, flood, earthquake, landslide, pest attack, cloudburst and cold wave.

Matching Previous Year Question

“[2014, GS3, 12 marks] Drought has been recognised as a disaster in view of its party expense, temporal duration, slow onset and lasting effect on various vulnerable sections. With a focus on the September 2010 guidelines from the National disaster management authority, discuss the mechanism for preparedness to deal with the El Nino and La Nina fallouts in India.”