Maharashtra Declares Drought in 265 Talukas, Announces Relief Measures

Nearly 75% of Maharashtra is now officially drought-hit, triggering crop loan restructuring and land revenue concessions

PGurus Newsdesk

September 26, 2026

State activates “Trigger-1” after rainfall deficit of over 25% combined with prolonged dry spell across 32 districts

The Maharashtra government has declared drought conditions in 265 of the state’s 358 talukas, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Saturday, covering close to 75 per cent of the state following an assessment of rainfall, water availability and crop conditions.

A government resolution formalising the declaration was issued late Friday, with a series of relief measures set to follow across the affected areas.

The trigger behind the decision

The state activated “Trigger-1” under its Drought Management Code and manual for drought management, first framed in 2016 and updated in 2020. Trigger-1 is the first stage in Maharashtra’s drought-response framework, activated when a region sees a rainfall deficit of more than 25 per cent combined with a prolonged dry spell of at least 21 days.

A report from the state’s Agriculture Commissioner found drought-like conditions across the 265 talukas spanning 32 districts, driven by rainfall shortfalls and related factors. State data showed an overall rainfall deficit of 18.8 per cent, with the state receiving 755.9 mm of rainfall between June and September 18 against an average of 932.3 mm, amid El Niño conditions. The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division — which includes Dharashiv and five other Marathwada districts — was among the worst hit, recording a 30.8 per cent deficit, while the Pune and Nashik divisions also saw shortfalls of around 30 per cent.

Relief measures announced

Fadnavis announced a package of relief measures for the affected talukas, including restructuring of crop loans, concessions on land revenue, and a deferment of recovery on agriculture-related loans, with no coercive action to be taken against farmers during the relief period. Electricity concessions have also been expanded: pumps up to 7.5 horsepower were already exempt from bills, and the government has now extended that exemption to higher-capacity pumps as well.

A separate government resolution is expected on financial assistance for crop losses in the 265 declared talukas, to be issued after the prescribed procedure is completed. Fadnavis has also directed district collectors to set up 24-hour war rooms to coordinate relief operations and ensure the measures are implemented promptly, with the administration placed on alert to monitor drinking-water availability, agricultural losses and fodder supply.

The declaration follows Fadnavis’s recent visits to drought-affected parts of the state.

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