Drought Conditions Intensify Across India as Rainfall Deficit Expands During June 2026

A comparison between the last week of June 2025 and the last week of June 2026 reveals a sharp increase in the geographical spread and intensity of drought conditions. During late June 2025, drought was largely confined to isolated pockets of Jammu and Kashmir, the northeastern region, and a few scattered districts elsewhere. However, the June 2026 assessment presents a much broader and more alarming picture. Areas experiencing moderate, severe, and extreme drought have expanded across parts of central, eastern, and northeastern India, while new drought-affected pockets have also emerged along sections of the western coast, particularly in Maharashtra.

Rainfall data for the final week of June 2026 indicates below-normal precipitation across a substantial portion of the country. Significant rainfall deficits have been recorded in parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and several northeastern states. Many of these regions correspond directly with the areas where drought intensity increased during the month, highlighting the close relationship between declining rainfall and worsening moisture conditions.

The weekly progression of drought throughout June further underscores the deteriorating situation. Regions that were largely classified as normal or only mildly affected during the first week of June gradually shifted into moderate and severe drought categories by the end of the month, reflecting a steady decline in soil moisture and rainfall availability.

The timing of the drought poses a major challenge for the agricultural sector. June marks the beginning of the monsoon crop sowing season, when agricultural activities depend heavily on timely and sufficient rainfall. Persistent moisture shortages during this critical period can delay sowing operations, weaken crop establishment, and increase dependence on irrigation, creating additional pressure on farmers and agricultural resources.

The expanding drought footprint, combined with widespread rainfall deficits at the onset of the monsoon season, highlights the growing challenge facing several regions of the country. The latest assessment indicates that deteriorating moisture conditions have intensified across multiple states, making the early phase of the agricultural season increasingly vulnerable to prolonged rainfall shortages.