The Telangana government has declared 365 mandals across 31 districts drought-affected for the 2026 kharif season, as the state recorded a 17% rainfall deficit during the southwest monsoon amid the impact of El Niño. The government order classifies 111 mandals as “severely” drought-affected and 254 as “moderately” affected.
The notification will remain in force for six months unless withdrawn earlier.
Nalgonda and Sangareddy are among the worst-affected districts, with 28 drought-hit mandals each, followed by Suryapet with 23, and Adilabad and Vikarabad with 20 each. Rangareddy and Nizamabad have 18 each, while Yadadri and Khammam have 17 each.
Telangana received 615.5 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 30, against the normal rainfall of 740.6 mm, according to the government order. Eighteen of the state’s 33 districts recorded deficient rainfall, with prolonged dry spells also contributing to drought conditions.
Impact on agriculture
The rainfall deficit has affected cultivation during the kharif season. The total cropped area fell from 139.28 lakh acres to 126.06 lakh acres, while the area under paddy declined by 18%, from 69.19 lakh acres to 57 lakh acres.
The government also flagged low water availability in major and medium reservoirs. Live storage stood at 179.63 TMC against a combined capacity of 585 TMC, raising concerns about drinking water supplies, agriculture, livestock and power generation.
The drought declaration followed an assessment based on rainfall and dry-spell data, along with indicators covering crop coverage, vegetation, soil moisture and groundwater. Automated rainfall data collected between June 1 and September 30 were assessed under the first-stage drought trigger. The affected mandals were then evaluated using at least three of four impact indicators.
Ground surveys were also conducted in 10% of villages in each mandal. The findings from field verification, along with technical assessments from the concerned departments and reports submitted by district collectors, were examined before the Cabinet sub-committee finalised the drought classification.
District collectors have been directed to initiate relief measures, including agricultural input subsidies through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), drinking water arrangements, fodder supply and cattle camps wherever necessary. Employment generation under VB-G RAM G has also been included among the relief measures.
The Agriculture Department has been directed to transfer input subsidies to eligible farmers within a month of receiving assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). Lists of beneficiaries will be published on the websites of the state government and the respective District Collectors.
District Collectors have also been asked to approach the State Level Bankers’ Committee to seek the restructuring of agricultural loans and prevent coercive recovery, wherever permitted under Reserve Bank of India guidelines.
The government will prepare a memorandum seeking NDRF assistance from the Union ministries of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Home Affairs. Mandals not included in the notification will continue to be monitored and may be added later if conditions deteriorate.
The drought declaration follows a resolution unanimously adopted by the Telangana Legislative Assembly on September 18, which sought additional assistance from the Union government to address the rainfall deficit and its impact on agriculture.
The resolution called for a central assessment of the drought situation, NDRF assistance, the release of the Union government’s share of the State Disaster Response Fund, crop-loss compensation and support for drinking water, fodder, groundwater and the restoration of water bodies.
The state has also sought 50 additional days of employment under VB-G RAM G, with the Union government bearing the entire cost, increased fertiliser supplies, an additional 1,500 MW of power and a special drought-relief package of Rs 20,000 crore.
It has further sought an increase in its borrowing limit under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) framework from 3% to 3.5% of gross state domestic product for 2026-27, in addition to extra assistance under Central and Centrally Sponsored Schemes with relaxed norms.
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