Rajasthan Declares 80 Tehsils Drought-Affected
Why in News?
- The Rajasthan Government declared 80 tehsils in 14 districts drought-affected on 26 October 2026, News On AIR reported.
- Of these, 69 tehsils are severely affected and 11 moderately affected, and Jodhpur has 12 tehsils while Jalore and Barmer have 10 each.
- The declaration cited deficient rainfall and damage to Kharif crops and remains in effect for six months.
- Relief measures include fodder depots for livestock and a six-month suspension of recovery of agricultural loans.
Key Terminologies
- Drought
- A prolonged shortage of water caused by deficient rainfall, which harms crops, livestock and water supply. A government declares a drought area by notification, after which relief rules apply.
- Tehsil
- An administrative unit within a district. Drought is often declared tehsil by tehsil, so relief can be targeted.
- Kharif Crops
- Crops sown at the start of the monsoon and harvested in autumn. They depend on rain in June to September, so a weak monsoon hits them directly.
- Jodhpur, Jalore and Barmer
- Districts of western Rajasthan, on the edge of the Thar desert, where rainfall is low and uncertain even in a normal year. A further fall in the monsoon quickly affects crops, water and fodder, which is why these districts have the most affected tehsils.
- India Drought Monitor
- An IIT Gandhinagar service that tracks drought across India. It put 46.7 per cent of India's land area under drought conditions on 21 October 2026, Down To Earth reported.
Key Issues
- Monsoon Deficit: The rainfall deficit in Rajasthan is large. The state received 340.2 mm of rain from 1 June to 30 September 2026 against a normal of 435.6 mm, a deficit of 22 per cent, according to the IMD, as Down To Earth reported. Western Rajasthan received 198.8 mm against 283.6 mm, a 30 per cent deficit.
- Crop Loss: Kharif crop damage is the basis of the declaration, and lack of soil moisture can also make sowing of the rabi crop difficult.
- Water Stress: Down To Earth reported that 216 of the state's 693 dams are empty and that reservoirs in the Jodhpur zone hold only about 16 per cent of capacity.
- Livestock: Fodder shortage is a risk in desert districts, which is why fodder depots are part of relief.
- Debt Burden: Farmers who lose a crop find it hard to repay loans, so suspension of recovery is a key relief step.
Key Implications
Positive/Pros/Merits
- Targeted Declaration: Declaring by tehsil lets the State direct relief to the worst hit areas, with 69 tehsils marked severe.
- Fodder Support: Fodder depots help livestock keepers, who are numerous in western Rajasthan.
- Loan Relief: A six-month suspension of agricultural loan recovery eases the pressure on farmers.
- Time Cover: The declaration stays in effect for six months, which gives time to deliver relief.
Negative/Cons/Demerits
- Relief Is Not Income: Fodder depots and loan suspension do not replace lost crop income.
- Delayed Declaration: Down To Earth reported on 26 October that the State had not yet declared drought, and opposition parties had demanded it, so relief came after the season ended.
- Water Gap: Empty dams and low reservoirs mean that drinking water and rabi irrigation remain concerns.
- Limited Detail: The report reviewed does not give crop-loss figures or the amount of compensation. Down To Earth also reported that Gujarat identified four drought-hit districts, which shows that the problem extends beyond Rajasthan.
Key Initiatives
- Drought Declaration, 26 October 2026: Rajasthan notified 80 tehsils in 14 districts as drought-affected, in effect for six months.
- Fodder Depots: The State will open depots for livestock in affected areas.
- Loan Recovery Suspended: Recovery of agricultural loans is suspended for six months.
- Gujarat's Measures, for Comparison: Under the Centre's Drought Manual Guidelines, 2016, Gujarat announced crop-loss compensation of Rs 8,500 per hectare capped at two hectares, fodder at Rs 2 per kg and 150 days of employment from 1 November, Down To Earth reported.
- Monitoring: The IIT Gandhinagar India Drought Monitor tracks drought conditions across the country.
The Rajasthan Government declares drought and runs relief, following national guidelines. The reports reviewed do not give the amount of compensation Rajasthan will pay.
Director's Perspective
Way Forward
- Publish tehsil-wise crop-loss estimates and compensation, so that farmers know what to expect.
- Plan drinking water and rabi irrigation for the districts with empty dams, so that relief covers water as well as fodder.
- Link drought relief to crop insurance claims, so that payments arrive together and on time.
The declaration shows that a weak monsoon has hit western Rajasthan hard, with a 30 per cent deficit there and empty dams across the state. The strengths are a tehsil-wise approach and early relief steps such as fodder depots and loan suspension, and the weaknesses are delay in declaring drought, gaps in water supply and a lack of income support. In a Mains answer, credit the targeted declaration, then conclude that drought resilience needs water conservation, drought-tolerant farming and timely compensation.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tehsils has Rajasthan declared drought-affected?
Rajasthan declared 80 tehsils across 14 districts drought-affected on 26 October 2026. Of these, 69 are severely affected and 11 moderately affected, with Jodhpur having 12 tehsils and Jalore and Barmer 10 each, News On AIR reported.
What relief has Rajasthan announced?
The State will open fodder depots for livestock in affected areas and has suspended recovery of agricultural loans for six months. The declaration stays in effect for six months and cites deficient rainfall and damage to Kharif crops.
How weak was the 2026 monsoon in Rajasthan?
The state received 340.2 mm of rain from 1 June to 30 September 2026 against a normal of 435.6 mm, a 22 per cent deficit. Western Rajasthan got 198.8 mm against a normal of 283.6 mm, a 30 per cent deficit, according to the IMD as reported by Down To Earth.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Kharif crops are sown with the onset of the monsoon and harvested in autumn.
A weak monsoon damages them directly.
2 Rajasthan declared drought in 80 tehsils across 14 districts.
Jodhpur has the most affected tehsils, with 12.
3 The drought declaration in Rajasthan remains in effect for two years.
It remains in effect for six months.