Ms. Shamaila Fatima will present her APS as per the details below:

Date: 24th February 2026

Time: 1200 - 1330 hrs.

Venue: C-TARA Conference Room No. 1

Topic:  Revisiting Drought Monitoring and Declaration Criteria in Maharashtra State

Guide: Prof. Parmeshwar D. Udmale

Co-Guide: Prof. Satish B. Agnihotri

RPC members: Prof. Amit Arora, Prof. Sarthak Gaurav

Abstract: 

Drought is a recurring natural disaster that has intensified due to climate change, affecting over 35% of the global population between 2000 and 2019. It has significant socio-economic and environmental consequences, particularly in regions highly dependent on rainfed agriculture. As global water demand is projected to increase by 55% between 2000 and 2050, ensuring sustainable water management is critical to mitigating drought risks. In India, where 70% of total crop water needs depend on monsoon rainfall, drought poses a major challenge to food security and rural livelihoods. Maharashtra, one of the most drought-prone states, has experienced frequent droughts, with 66% of its land area affected in 2023 alone. The existing drought declaration process in India follows the Manual for Drought Management (2016, revised in 2020) and incorporates parameters such as rainfall, crop conditions, groundwater levels, and reservoir storage. However, the declaration timeline (October 31 for Kharif and March 31 for Rabi), limited real-time monitoring, and data availability challenges hinder timely relief and mitigation efforts. Although dashboards like the India Drought Monitor and Maharashtra Drought Assessment Tool (MahaMADAT) provide subdistrict and district-level insights, there remains a gap in localized drought monitoring and early warning systems. The present study aims to improve India’s drought declaration criteria and early warning system, and its application at the local level.