Drought
Drought · types · DPAP · NMSA
12 min read · Updated 2026-05-25
What is Drought?
Drought is a prolonged period of below-normal precipitation that creates water shortage for people, crops and ecosystems. It is classified as meteorological, when rainfall is deficient; hydrological, when reservoirs and aquifers deplete; agricultural, when soil moisture fails a crop; and socio-economic, when prices, debt and migration follow. About 68 per cent of India's cultivated area is drought-prone.
The story
It is April 2016. Latur, Marathwada, Maharashtra. The mercury hits 45°C. The Manjara Dam, lifeline for Latur city's 500,000 residents, has been dry for eight months. Water has not been supplied from municipal taps for 75 days. People queue from 3 am at the railway station where the Indian Railways' 'Jaldoot Express' brings 5 lakh litres of water every alternate day from Miraj, 350 km away.
Section 144 CrPC is imposed near water sources — anti-riot laws to prevent water riots. Tankers cost ₹3,000 per trip. Schoolchildren faint in 45°C heat. 80% of Marathwada's farms have failed; 3,200 farmer suicides in Marathwada that year alone. Forty percent of India is in declared drought.
This is India's worst drought year since 1972. Caused by back-to-back El Niño-deficient monsoons (2014, 2015), compounded by groundwater over-extraction and cropping pattern mismatch. The Centre declares ₹12,000 crore drought relief. Marathwada, Bundelkhand, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu all reel.
This unit covers agricultural, meteorological, hydrological droughts, classification, ADMI Index, NDMA drought guidelines, and the structural drivers (rainfall variability, groundwater, cropping patterns).
Why this matters for UPSC
Droughts affect 68% of cultivated area in India. Prelims tests the 3-type classification + IMD-MoA frameworks. Mains demands you discuss structural drivers + government interventions (PMKSY, MGNREGA, Crop Insurance). Interview boards probe Latur 2016 vs Bundelkhand chronic drought — the persistence problem.