Andhra government declares drought in 21 districts; 283 mandals ‘severely affected’

Agriculture & Disaster Management · 8 October 2026 · Based on Indian Express (original report)

Worth reading — New development — both a Prelims fact and a Mains debate, no past question yet.

2-minute summary

The Andhra Pradesh government has officially declared drought in 21 of its 26 districts, identifying 388 out of 688 mandals as drought-affected for the South-West Monsoon 2026 Kharif season. Among these, 283 mandals are classified as severely affected and 105 as moderately affected, with the Rayalaseema region bearing the brunt. The early declaration, carried out before the October 31 deadline based on recommendations by a high-level Committee on Drought, follows a severe rainfall deficit of 53.4% between June and August 2026, compounded by prevailing El Niño conditions. The declaration adheres to the Manual for Drought Management, 2016 issued by the Government of India. Opposition parties criticized the government for administrative delays and exclusions of certain areas, while Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu highlighted the interlinking of river systems, specifically the Godavari and Cauvery, as a long-term strategic solution to make southern states drought-free and support water-stressed regions like Rayalaseema.

Why it's in the news

The Andhra Pradesh government declared drought across 21 districts ahead of the official deadline due to a severe rainfall deficit and El Niño conditions, triggering debates on disaster preparedness, regional disparities, and long-term river-linking solutions.

Facts to remember

• The Andhra Pradesh government declared 388 out of 688 mandals across 21 districts as drought-affected for the South-West Monsoon 2026 Kharif season.
• Out of the drought-affected mandals, 283 were classified as severely affected and 105 as moderately affected.
• The state recorded a rainfall deficit of 53.4% during the months of June to August 2026, receiving an average of 197.6 mm against the normal 424.3 mm.
• The drought declaration was made in accordance with the Manual for Drought Management, 2016 issued by the Government of India.
• Rayalaseema region bore the brunt of the deficit with 186 of the 388 drought-declared mandals located there.

Background and context

Drought declaration in India is governed by scientific indices and administrative guidelines set out in the Manual for Drought Management. Historically, drought management was reactive and focused on relief provision after crop failure. However, successive revisions by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, culminating in the Manual for Drought Management, 2016, introduced objective criteria such as rainfall deviation, dry spell duration, soil moisture index, and remote-sensing crop condition data. Early declaration enables state governments to access relief funds under mechanisms like the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), implement input subsidies for alternative crops, and roll out employment generation schemes under MGNREGS. In peninsular India, periodic droughts are frequently exacerbated by large-scale climatic oscillations such as El Niño, which suppress monsoon rainfall. Consequently, long-term mitigation strategies often focus on micro-irrigation, watershed development, groundwater recharge, and inter-basin water transfer projects like the Godavari-Cauvery interlinking proposal.

Constitutional provisions

• Schedule VII (Seventh Schedule) — Relief of disabled and unemployable, and public health and sanitation fall under the State List, while matters related to interstate rivers and national economic planning involve Union and Concurrent Lists.

Committees and reports

• Manual for Drought Management — Issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, establishing standardized meteorological, hydrological, and agricultural indicators for drought declaration.

Government schemes

• State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) / National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) — Primary funding mechanisms utilized by state governments to provide immediate relief, input subsidies, and drinking water supply during declared natural calamities like droughts.
• Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0 — Amarajeevi Jaladhara — Aimed at ensuring safe and adequate drinking water access in rural areas and addressing regional water scarcity through infrastructure development.

Mains practice: Assess the efficacy of India's current drought management framework in addressing agrarian distress caused by monsoon deficits and climate variability. Suggest structural measures to build long-term resilience.

Introduction

Recurrent agricultural droughts, driven by monsoon aberrations and climate phenomena like El Niño, severely impact rural livelihoods in peninsular India. The recent early declaration of drought across 21 districts in Andhra Pradesh under the Manual for Drought Management, 2016, underscores the growing urgency for climate-resilient agrarian planning.

Constitutional and Institutional Framework

• Disaster Governance: Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the Manual for Drought Management, 2016, states utilize objective indicators—such as rainfall deficit, soil moisture, and remote-sensing crop health—to declare droughts and mobilize relief.

• Financial Architecture: Funds are channeled through the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to provide immediate relief and input subsidies to affected farmers.

Socio-Economic and Environmental Vulnerabilities

• Rainfed Dependency: Over 50% of India's net sown area remains rainfed, making prolonged dry spells catastrophic for small and marginal farmers.

• Regional Disparities: Regions like Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh face acute structural water scarcity, compounding the socio-economic distress of farming communities.

Long-Term Structural Challenges

• Groundwater Depletion: Over-extraction for water-intensive cropping patterns in semi-arid zones exacerbates vulnerability during meteorological droughts.

• Implementation Lags: Delays in agricultural census data integration and crop loss assessments often hamper timely relief delivery.

Way Forward

• Climate-Smart Agriculture: Promote drought-resistant seed varieties, crop diversification, and precision micro-irrigation under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).

• Watershed Management: Scale up community-based rainwater harvesting and aquifer recharge structures to build local water buffers.

• Basin-Level Integration: Explore ecologically sound inter-basin water transfers, such as the Godavari-Cauvery river interlinking project, with robust environmental safeguards.

• Comprehensive Risk Mitigation: Expand crop insurance coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to offer swift payouts for prevented sowing and mid-season adversity.

Conclusion

Mitigating drought requires transitioning from a reactive relief-centric model to a proactive, climate-resilient paradigm anchored in sustainable water stewardship and robust social safety nets, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and Goal 13 (Climate Action).

Prelims practice questions

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding drought management and declaration in India: 1. The declaration of drought by state governments is guided by the parameters laid down in the Manual for Drought Management issued by the Union Government. 2. The Manual for Drought Management relies exclusively on meteorological rainfall data without factoring in remote-sensing crop conditions or soil moisture. 3. Financial assistance for managing drought conditions is primarily channeled through the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Answer: B. Statement 1 is correct because state governments follow the criteria prescribed in the Manual for Drought Management issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Statement 2 is incorrect because the manual uses multiple impact indicators, including meteorological data, remote-sensing crop health, soil moisture indices, and hydrological parameters, not just rainfall data. Statement 3 is correct as SDRF and NDRF serve as the primary financial mechanisms for providing relief during notified natural calamities like droughts.

Q2. Consider the following statements: Statement I: El Niño conditions often lead to a deficit in South-West monsoon rainfall over parts of the Indian subcontinent, increasing agricultural vulnerability. Statement II: El Niño is characterized by the anomalous warming of surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, which disrupts normal atmospheric circulation patterns. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
3. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Answer: A. Statement I correctly highlights that El Niño conditions cause monsoon deficits and agrarian distress in India. Statement II correctly defines El Niño as Pacific warming. Furthermore, Statement II directly explains the physical mechanism by which Walker circulation is weakened, leading to suppressed rainfall over the Indian region.

Q3. Which of the following bodies or ministries is officially responsible for issuing the comprehensive guidelines and the Manual for Drought Management in India?

1. NITI Aayog and Department of Economic Affairs
2. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
3. National Disaster Management Authority under Ministry of Home Affairs
4. Ministry of Jal Shakti and Central Water Commission

Answer: B. The Manual for Drought Management, including the 2016 updated guidelines, was issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, to provide a standardized, scientific framework for states to assess and declare droughts.

Revision flashcards

• Which nodal union ministry issues the Manual for Drought Management in India? Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, which provides the standardized framework and indicators for drought declaration by states.
• What are the primary financial mechanisms used by state governments to disburse relief during a declared drought? State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
• How many mandals were declared drought-affected in Andhra Pradesh for the South-West Monsoon Kharif season? 388 mandals across 21 districts were declared drought-affected, with 283 classified as severely affected (announced in October 2026).
• What percentage of rainfall deficit was recorded in Andhra Pradesh between June and August 2026, prompting early drought declaration? A 53.4% rainfall deficit, with the state receiving an average of 197.6 mm against the normal 424.3 mm.
• Why do recurring meteorological droughts trigger severe agrarian distress in peninsular India? High dependence on rainfed agriculture (over 50% of net sown area) combined with depleting groundwater levels makes farming acutely vulnerable to monsoon failures.