With reference to the drought situation in India as reported in the note, consider the following statements: 1. Soybean, cotton, and sugarcane are among the primary crops affected by the drought. 2. The drought hotspots were identified exclusively in Maharashtra and Gujarat. 3. The drought footprint in 2026 is the widest recorded among the past five years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Why Maharashtra Minister Has Warned Of A Potential 100% Drought Situation

GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Cropping patterns & irrigation· Prelims + Mains· 23 September 2026

Climate change and monsoon variability: a GS3 case study on agricultural distress and drought mitigation.

Why in news

Maharashtra Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil warned of a potential 100% drought situation by the end of September 2026 due to a weak monsoon and deficient rainfall.

Background

The India Drought Monitor portal identified large hotspots of moderate to extreme drought across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, and Karnataka. The drought footprint in 2026 is the widest recorded among the past five years, severely impacting soybean, cotton, and sugarcane crops.

Facts for Prelims

FactSeptember 2026 emerged as the worst-affected month for drought in at least five years.
PlaceDrought hotspots identified in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, and Karnataka.
FactPrimary crops affected by the drought include soybean, cotton, and sugarcane.

Prelims practice question

With reference to the drought situation in India as reported in the note, consider the following statements:

Soybean, cotton, and sugarcane are among the primary crops affected by the drought.
The drought hotspots were identified exclusively in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
The drought footprint in 2026 is the widest recorded among the past five years.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only
(b)1 and 2 only
(c)1 and 3 only
(d)2 and 3 only

Show answer

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only — Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect: Hotspots were identified in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, and Karnataka.

For Mains

Q. Discuss the impact of erratic monsoon patterns on agricultural productivity in Maharashtra and suggest measures to mitigate drought-induced crop failures.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Climate vulnerability: High dependence on monsoon-fed irrigation for cash crops like cotton and sugarcane
Economic risk: Potential for rural distress and price volatility due to widespread crop failure in drought hotspots

Keywords: monsoon variability · agricultural distress · drought mitigation · crop diversification · climate resilience

Read the full news →Report a mistake in this note Source: NDTV ↗Also: GS1 · Geophysical phenomena (earthquakes, cyclones, volcanoes)

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