{"id":78390,"date":"2025-12-18T14:06:14","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T08:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=78390"},"modified":"2025-12-18T14:06:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T08:36:14","slug":"drought","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/drought\/","title":{"rendered":"Drought, Definition, Types, Causes, Drought Prone Areas, Impact"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drought is a prolonged period when rainfall is significantly below normal, leading to water shortage, crop failure, and stress on livelihoods. In India, nearly <\/span><b>51% of agricultural land depends on rainfall<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, making the country highly vulnerable. Unlike sudden disasters, drought develops slowly but affects large populations, disrupting food security, rural incomes, and the overall economy. Its effects can last for months or even years, depending on severity.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Drought Definition<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/india-meteorological-department-imd\/\" target=\"_blank\">India Meteorological Department<\/a> (IMD)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> defines meteorological drought as a situation when seasonal rainfall is <\/span><b>less than 75% of the long-term average<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, indicating a significant shortage of moisture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The severity is classified into <\/span><b>moderate drought<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (25-50% rainfall deficit) and <\/span><b>severe drought<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (over 50% deficit). Such droughts have serious impacts on <\/span><b>agriculture, water availability, and society<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Types of Drought<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drought can be classified based on its impact on rainfall, agriculture, water resources, and society. Each type develops differently and affects communities in various ways.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Meteorological Drought<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Occurs when rainfall is <\/span><b>25% or more below normal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, signaling a potential drought.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Agricultural Drought<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Happens when soil moisture is insufficient for crops, reducing yields even if the rainfall deficit is moderate.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Hydrological Drought<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Results from lower water levels in rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater due to prolonged dry conditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Socio-economic Drought<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Arises when water scarcity starts affecting livelihoods, food supply, employment, and income.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Causes of Drought in India<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drought in India results from a combination of climatic, environmental, and human-induced factors.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. Climatic Factors<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are natural causes related to weather and rainfall patterns:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Erratic Monsoon<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: About <\/span><b>75% of India\u2019s annual rainfall<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> comes from the southwest monsoon; delays or uneven distribution cause drought.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Low Rainfall Years<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Periods with below-normal precipitation lead to water scarcity in agriculture and reservoirs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>High Temperature and Evaporation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Rising temperatures increase evaporation from soil and water bodies, reducing available moisture.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Extreme Weather Events<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Heatwaves and prolonged dry spells exacerbate drought conditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>2. Environmental Factors<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These relate to natural land and ecosystem changes that reduce water availability:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Deforestation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Loss of forest cover reduces soil moisture retention and affects local rainfall patterns.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Land Degradation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Soil erosion, overgrazing, and poor land management decrease the soil\u2019s water-holding capacity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Reduced Groundwater Recharge<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Changes in natural watercourses, siltation of rivers, and loss of wetlands reduce natural water storage.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Arid and Semi-Arid Geography<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Regions like western Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat naturally receive low rainfall, making them prone to drought.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>3. Human-Induced Factors<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are caused by human activity that worsens drought impacts:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Overexploitation of Groundwater<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: India extracts over <\/span><b>250 billion cubic meters of groundwater annually<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, leaving insufficient water during dry periods.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Poor Irrigation and Water Management<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Inefficient flood irrigation and lack of water storage infrastructure increase water stress.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Urbanization and Industrialization<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Cities and industries consume large amounts of water and prevent natural groundwater recharge.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Unsustainable Agriculture<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Mono-cropping, water-intensive crops like sugarcane and rice, and overuse of chemical fertilizers deplete soil moisture.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Drought-Prone Areas of India<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some regions in India face drought more frequently due to climate, geography, and water resource limitations. Overall, <\/span><b>about 68% of India\u2019s net sown area<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is considered drought-prone, affecting millions of farmers.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Western India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Rajasthan and Gujarat experience frequent droughts due to arid climate.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Central India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh face irregular rainfall and groundwater depletion.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Southern India<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu often suffer from monsoon failures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Eastern Plateau<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Jharkhand and parts of Odisha are vulnerable due to poor water retention.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Impact of Drought on Agriculture and Food Security<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Crop Losses<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Prolonged water scarcity reduces yields of major crops like rice, wheat, pulses, and oilseeds. Severe droughts can cause <\/span><b>10-40% reduction in crop production<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, affecting both domestic supply and exports.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Livestock Stress<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Shortages of fodder and drinking water reduce livestock health and milk production, impacting rural income. For example, in 2016-17, drought in Maharashtra led to <\/span><b>loss of 3.6 million livestock units<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Food Price Inflation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Lower crop production increases food prices, making staples like wheat, rice, and pulses less affordable for the poor.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nutrition and Health Risks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Reduced food availability and income loss lead to malnutrition, especially among children and women. Surveys show malnutrition rates rise in drought-affected districts by <\/span><b>10-15%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Seed and Input Scarcity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Farmers often struggle to access quality seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation inputs during droughts, reducing the capacity for recovery in the next season.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Economic and Social Impacts of Drought<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drought affects not only agriculture but also the broader economy and society, creating long-term challenges for communities. Severe drought years can even reduce India\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/gross-domestic-product-gdp\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>GDP<\/strong><\/a> growth by <\/span><b>0.5-1%<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, showing the economic scale of this problem.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Loss of Rural Employment<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Reduced farm activity and crop failure lead to unemployment and distress migration.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Increased Poverty<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Small and marginal farmers face income loss and rising debt, worsening poverty levels.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Decline in Livelihoods<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Livestock rearing, dairying, and seasonal labor are affected due to water and fodder shortages.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Food Insecurity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Lower crop production and higher prices make food less affordable, impacting nutrition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Health Risks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Water scarcity causes poor sanitation, malnutrition, and higher incidence of waterborne diseases.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Social Stress and Conflicts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Competition over scarce water resources increases tensions in affected communities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>NDMA Guidelines on Drought Management<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><b> NDMA Guidelines (2010) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">provide a comprehensive framework to prepare for, mitigate, and manage drought in India, focusing on early warning, water conservation, agriculture, and community resilience.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Drought Monitoring<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Set up state and district <\/span><b>Drought Monitoring Cells<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, automatic weather stations, and soil moisture sensors for real-time assessment.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Early Warning Systems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Integrate ground-based and satellite data, and maintain ICT dashboards and web portals for timely alerts.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Water Management<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Promote <\/span><b>rainwater harvesting, watershed development, and micro-irrigation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to conserve water.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Agricultural Support<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Encourage <\/span><b>drought-resistant crops, crop diversification, credit, insurance, and market support<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for farmers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Community Awareness &amp; Capacity Building<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Train officials, local bodies, NGOs, and include drought mitigation in school and college curricula.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Livestock &amp; Environmental Measures<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Provide fodder, water for animals, promote afforestation and biodiesel plantations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Integrated Planning &amp; Implementation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Prepare drought management plans at all levels, allocate funds, and involve development programs and CSR initiatives.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Challenges in Drought Management<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drought management in India faces multiple structural and operational challenges that limit effective preparedness and response.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fragmented Water Governance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Overlapping responsibilities among central, state, and local agencies create coordination gaps.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Delayed Relief Measures<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Slow disbursement of aid and employment schemes reduces effectiveness and increases farmer distress.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Low Irrigation Coverage<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Only about <\/span><b>52% of farmland<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is irrigated, making rain-fed regions highly vulnerable.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Limited Real-Time Data<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Lack of localized, accurate information on rainfall, soil moisture, and crop conditions hampers early action.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Climate Uncertainty<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Increasing variability of monsoon and extreme weather events makes drought prediction difficult.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Resource Constraints<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Inadequate financial, technical, and human resources at state and district levels affect implementation of mitigation measures.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Way Forward<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effective drought management requires proactive, long-term, and sustainable strategies to reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Promote Climate-Resilient Agriculture<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Encourage drought-tolerant and less water-intensive crops.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Expand Efficient Irrigation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Increase use of <\/span><b>micro-irrigation, drip, and sprinkler systems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to save water.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strengthen Groundwater Management<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Recharge aquifers and regulate over-extraction.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Leverage Technology<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Use satellites, GIS, weather forecasting, and mobile alerts for early warning and planning.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Community Participation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Involve local communities, <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/panchayati-raj-institutions\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Panchayati Raj Institutions<\/strong><\/a>, and NGOs in water conservation and drought preparedness.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Integrate Drought in Development Planning<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Include drought risk mitigation in state and central developmental programs, budget allocations, and CSR initiatives.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Drought explained with definition, types, causes, drought-prone areas in India, impacts on food security, economy, and NDMA drought management guidelines.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":78434,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[4280],"class_list":{"0":"post-78390","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-drought","9":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78390","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=78390"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78390\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/78434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=78390"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=78390"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=78390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}