"Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh Declare Drought After Weak Monsoon"
Meteorological drought
a prolonged period of inadequate or badly distributed rainfall.
Agricultural drought
low soil moisture that damages standing crops, also called soil moisture drought.
India's drought-management system has changed from a political process to a rule-based one. In the past, drought declarations were often based on subjective claims by states, sometimes exaggerated to get more central aid. Since 2009, the Manual for Drought Management, later revised, and various Finance Commission recommendations have made these rules stricter. A drought is a long shortage of usable water caused by low rainfall, high evaporation and over-use of stored or ground water. The Manual divides this into three linked but separate types: meteorological drought (a long spell of inadequate or badly distributed rainfall), agricultural drought (low soil moisture that damages standing crops), and hydrological drought (falling water levels in rivers, tanks and aquifers). An area with more than 30% of its land under irrigation is excluded from the agricultural drought category, because irrigation can offset a poor monsoon.
Older drought-proofing schemes such as the Drought-Prone Area Programme and the Desert Development Programme were merged years ago into an integrated watershed scheme run by the Ministry of Rural Development. A separate rainfed-area watershed project historically sat with the Ministry of Agriculture. This shows how drought response in India has long been spread across several ministries rather than one dedicated authority. This institutional spread is part of why today's drought declaration still needs a joint, verified process rather than a single agency's word.
The Drought-Prone Area Programme and Desert Development Programme were merged into an integrated watershed scheme under the Ministry of Rural Development. A separate rainfed-area watershed project historically sat with the Ministry of Agriculture, not Rural Development.
Today, a state wanting central disaster funds cannot simply announce a drought. It must first run its own survey using rainfall deficiency, crop loss and groundwater data. Then it must seek ground verification. An Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) visits the affected areas. Only after its findings are checked can the state draw money from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). The NDRF supplements each state's own State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). This two-step check, self-declaration followed by central verification, is meant to stop exaggerated claims. …
Consider the following pairs:
Programme/Project : Ministry
1.Drought-Prone Area Programme : Ministry of Agriculture
2.Desert Development Programme : Ministry of Environment and Forests
3.National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas : Ministry of Rural Development
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
In the context of disaster relief financing in India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.The National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) supplements the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
2.NDRF assistance to a state is released only after verification by an Inter-Ministerial Central Team.
3.The Finance Commission recommends the funding framework for disaster relief.
Select the correct answer using the code below.
With reference to India's drought classification, consider the following statements:
1.Meteorological drought refers to a prolonged period of inadequate and badly distributed rainfall.
2.Agricultural drought is characterised by low soil moisture that damages standing crops.
3.An area with more than 30% of its gross cropped area under irrigation is excluded from the agricultural drought category.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Match List-I (Programme) with List-II (Administering Ministry) as historically constituted, and select the correct answer using the code below:
List-I
A.Drought-Prone Area Programme
B.Desert Development Programme
C.National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas
List-II
1.Ministry of Agriculture
2.Ministry of Rural Development
3.Ministry of Environment and Forests
Which of the following statements regarding India's seasonal monsoon and drought in the current context is/are correct?
1.A below-normal national monsoon figure can still mask severe drought in specific states or districts.
2.El Niño weakens the Indian monsoon by strengthening moisture inflow from the Pacific.
3.The IPCC has projected expanding drought-like conditions across South Asia due to climate change.
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