"All-India drought"

• The country as a whole may 'get' a 'normal monsoon' , but different 'meteorological districts' and 'sub-divisions' can 'get' 'rainfall' 'below normal' . The 'rainfall categories' for smaller areas are defined as: 'deviation from a meteorological area's normal rainfall'

Excess +20% of normal Normal +19% of normal Deficient -20% to -59% of normal Scanty -60% of normal

• There are 3 'types' of droughts

(i) Meteorological drought: 'Actual rainfall' in an area significantly less than 'climatological mean' of that area

(ii) Hydrological drought: A 'marked depletion' of surface water causing very 'low stream flow' and drying of lakes, rivers and reservoirs

(iii) Agricultural drought: Inadequate soil moisture resulting in 'acute' crop 'stress' and 'fall' in 'agricultural productivity'

• This year, 19 per cent of India's land area experienced 'moderate drought' ; 10 per cent suffered 'severe drought'

• Rainfall in July (most important for agriculture) was 49 per cent 'deficient'. The last time this figure fell below 45 per cent was in 1911

• When there is more than 10 per cent rainfall deficiency, and more than 20 per cent of the area is under drought, the situation is called "all-India drought"

• In 2002, rainfall deficiency was 19 per cent, and 29 per cent of India was under drought