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Despite above-normal rainfall in early monsoon, 19 per cent of India faces drought conditions, with areas like Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh experiencing extreme dryness. The Drought Early Warning System highlights severe deficits in regions such as Bihar and Punjab, impacting agriculture due to inadequate soil moisture.
Despite India receiving above-normal rainfall during the first half of the monsoon season (June-July), around 19 per cent of the land area in the country was reeling from drought and drought-like conditions, according to the data by Drought Early Warning System (DEWS).
The 18.9 per cent area was under different degrees of drought — ranging from ‘abnormally dry’ to ‘exceptionally dry’, according to data released on July 30, 2025 by DEWS, which is India’s first real-time drought-monitoring platform run by IIT-Gandhinagar’s Water and Climate Lab.
Out of the 18.9 per cent, 3.9 per cent area was under ‘extreme’ and ‘exceptional’ dry conditions, while 2.8 per cent was under ‘severe’ dry conditions, the analysis showed. As much as 6 per cent was under ‘moderate’ dry conditions.
The areas gripped by extreme and exceptional drought are in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and the north eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Assam.
In Arunachal Pradesh, large parts of districts of Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri, Kamle, Upper Subansiri, Papumpare and Kra Daadi were under ‘exceptional’ degree of drought. Similarly, Karbi Anglong in Assam, Champhai in Mizoram, and Pherzawl and Churchandpur in Manipur were under ‘exceptional’ dry conditions.
Most of these areas have recorded ‘deficient’ or ‘large deficient’ rainfall, between June 1 and August 5, 2025, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data. Arunachal Pradesh had a rainfall deficit of 41 per cent till now. In Assam, the Karbi Anglong district has seen 27 per cent less rainfall than normal.
The India Drought Monitor also showed desert areas of Lahaul and Spiti, with 66 per cent ‘large deficit’ rainfall, and Ladakh under exceptional drought conditions. This is despite Ladakh recording 139 per cent excess rainfall this monsoon season, as per IMD data.
Meanwhile, many parts of Bihar — Muzaffarpur, Saran, East Champaran, Siwan, Kishanganj — and eastern Uttar Pradesh — Amethi, Bahraich, Gorakhpur, Mau, Farukkabad, Sitapur and Hardoi — experienced exceptional drought.
Areas like Muzaffarpur, Kishanganj and Saharsa have experienced 44-60 per cent deficit in rainfall.
In Punjab, Kapurthala, with 73 per cent ‘large deficient’ rainfall, was experiencing exceptional drought.
At the same time, 29 per cent districts across India were facing arid conditions, according to the aridity anomaly outlook index for May 11-17 issued by IMD Pune.
The aridity anomaly index refers to the water stress a growing plant suffers due to a shortage of available moisture (both rainfall and soil moisture). An anomaly from a normal value would thus signify the water shortage from a long-term climatic value.
The index monitors agricultural drought, a situation when rainfall and soil moisture is inadequate to support healthy crop growth till maturity, causing crop stress.
Overall, India has received 3 per cent excess rainfall from June 1, 2025 through August 5, 20205. India was likely to receive above-normal rainfall even during the second half of the monsoon season (August and September), IMD said last week.
Final summary: Despite receiving above-normal rainfall in the early monsoon season, India is grappling with drought conditions affecting 19 per cet of its land area. The Drought Early Warning System reports severe dryness in regions like Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. Areas such as Bihar and Punjab are experiencing significant rainfall deficits, posing challenges for crop growth and water availability.