Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Karnataka Seeks Centre Changes to Drought Assessment Guidelines
Karnataka is reviewing how drought is measured in the state.
Minister Eshwar B Khandre said the current rules may miss some serious drought conditions.
The rules look at rainfall, sowing and satellite information.
They also require a long period without rain and enough loss of soil moisture.
Khandre said even light drizzle can prevent an area from meeting the rules.
Crops may still fail even when the official conditions are not met.
He wants Karnataka to ask the central government to change the guidelines.
A state committee discussed this issue while reviewing the 2026 monsoon and drought situation.
Minister Eshwar B Khandre urged Karnataka to seek amendments to the Centre’s Drought Management Manual.
He said current norms may not reflect crop failures and severe farmer distress on the ground.
Existing assessment considers rainfall deficiency, satellite indices, sowing levels and continuous dry spells.
A taluk may qualify with 60% rainfall deficiency, over 50% sowing deficiency and a three-week dry spell.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee reviewed Karnataka’s 2026 monsoon and drought situation under Revenue Minister G Parameshwara.
- Who
- Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B Khandre, the Cabinet Sub-Committee and Revenue Minister G Parameshwara.
- What
- The state is considering writing to the Centre to seek changes to drought assessment guidelines.
- When
- The proposal was made during a meeting reviewing the state’s 2026 monsoon and drought situation.
- Where
- Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- Why
- Khandre said existing technical criteria may fail to reflect crop losses and actual drought conditions faced by farmers.
- Proposal
- Write to the Centre seeking amendments to the Drought Management Manual.
- Reviewing body
- A Cabinet Sub-Committee chaired by Revenue Minister G Parameshwara.
- Assessment agencies
- The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre and the Revenue Department’s Disaster Management Cell.
- Rainfall criterion
- A 60% deficiency compared with normal rainfall can support drought consideration.
- Sowing criterion
- More than 50% deficiency in sowing is among the existing criteria.
- Dry-spell criterion
- A continuous three-week period without rainfall, with depleted soil moisture, is included.
- Main concern
- Light or sporadic rainfall may prevent an area from meeting prescribed criteria despite severe crop stress.