Large parts of India have entered July under worsening drought conditions, with fresh data indicating that moisture stress has expanded significantly compared to the same period last year. The development has raised concerns for farmers as the country enters the crucial kharif sowing season, which relies heavily on timely monsoon rainfall.
According to data released by the Water and Climate Lab at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar, drought conditions intensified steadily throughout June 2026. A comparison between the final week of June in 2025 and 2026 shows that areas experiencing moderate, severe and extreme drought have increased across several regions of the country.
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Unlike last year, when drought conditions were mostly limited to parts of Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast and a few isolated pockets, this year’s maps show drought spreading across central, eastern and northeastern India. Fresh drought-hit areas have also emerged along parts of Maharashtra’s western coast, highlighting the uneven progress of the southwest monsoon.
The deterioration has been linked to below-normal rainfall during the last week of June. States including Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and several northeastern states recorded significant rainfall deficits, contributing to worsening soil moisture conditions. In contrast, parts of northwest India and southern peninsular states received above-normal rainfall, helping keep drought conditions under control in those regions.
Weekly data also shows that many areas which began June with normal or only mildly dry conditions gradually slipped into moderate or severe drought categories by the end of the month.
The timing is particularly worrying for the agricultural sector. June marks the beginning of kharif crop sowing, and inadequate rainfall can delay planting, hinder crop establishment and increase farmers’ dependence on irrigation. If rainfall deficits persist in the coming weeks, experts warn that agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods could face increased pressure during the ongoing monsoon season.
