Centre to send teams to assess drought in Karnataka, Maharashtra: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that the Centre will deploy teams to assess drought conditions in Karnataka and Maharashtra. The move comes as climate change impacts the kharif season and threatens the upcoming rabi crop cycle.
Why it matters
Effective drought assessment is vital for food security and economic stability in India's agrarian states facing climate-induced water scarcity.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday (September 28, 2026) said the Centre will send teams to Karnataka and Maharashtra to assess the drought situation in the two States.
Addressing a two-day national conference on preparedness for the upcoming rabi (winter) season, Mr. Chouhan said the effects of climate change were clearly visible, and the just-concluded kharif (summer) season had felt their impact.
"We will send a central team to Karnataka on October 3 to assess the drought situation. I have spoken with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, who is concerned as well, and we will send a central team there too. I, along with my team, will personally visit the States facing this crisis," he said.
Karnataka has declared a drought, while Maharashtra has declared drought across roughly two-thirds of the State, the Minister said.
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