Key Highlights

• 80 tehsils, 14 districts: The state has classified tehsils as severely or moderately drought-affected through a Sunday notification.
• Western belt worst-hit: Jodhpur leads with 12 tehsils, followed by Jalore and Barmer with 10 each.
• Steep rain deficits: Pali recorded 58% less rain than normal, Jaisalmer 54% and Jalore 50%.
• Relief on the ground: Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg said fodder depots will be set up in affected areas.
• Six-month window: Drought-related provisions will apply for six months from the date of publication.

Rajasthan has formally declared 80 tehsils across 14 districts drought-affected, following a deficient monsoon that has left standing crops withering and raised fresh worries over water and fodder for livestock. The notification, issued on Sunday by the Disaster Management and Relief Department, classifies the tehsils as either severely or moderately drought-affected.

The declaration caps a weak season for the state. Rajasthan closed the 2026 southwest monsoon with rainfall 17.33% below normal, with the shortfall hitting western Rajasthan particularly hard. District-level figures show how uneven the damage has been: Pali recorded a 58 per cent deficit, Jaisalmer 54 per cent and Jalore 50 per cent. Banswara (39 per cent), Sirohi (36 per cent), Balotra (28 per cent), Jodhpur (27 per cent) and Dungarpur (24 per cent) also received far less rain than normal. The department said it assessed rainfall deficiency, groundwater levels, surface water availability and crop losses before issuing the notice.

The affected tehsils are spread across Jodhpur (12), Jalore (10), Barmer (10), Balotra (9), Pali (8), Dungarpur (7), Jaisalmer (7), Phalodi (7), Banswara (3), Beawar (2), Churu (2), Bikaner (2), and one each in Nagaur and Sirohi.

Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg confirmed that 10 tehsils in Jalore district are on the list. He said drought-like conditions had developed in several parts of the state, prompting the government to act. Fodder depots will be established in affected areas, and all possible assistance will be extended to farmers and livestock owners.

Why This Declaration Matters

The list tells two stories. Most of the affected tehsils sit in the arid western belt (Jodhpur, Barmer, Balotra, Jaisalmer, Phalodi and Jalore), where livestock rearing is often as important to household income as farming. A failed kharif crop there quickly turns into a fodder crisis. The inclusion of Dungarpur and Banswara in the southern tribal belt shows the deficit was not confined to the desert.

The groundwork for the decision began weeks ago. After the monsoon withdrew, the Revenue Department was asked to carry out a girdawari, a field survey of crops, in 117 tehsils, and district collectors in affected areas were authorised to approve contingency relief works of up to Rs 1 crore.

The notification brings the affected areas under applicable drought-related provisions for six months from its publication. It gives district administrations the formal basis to begin relief work, including fodder and drinking water arrangements for livestock and other assistance available under government rules.

For farmers who have already lost their standing crops, the coming months will depend on how quickly fodder depots open and water supplies reach villages. With winter approaching and the next reliable rain months away, the pace of district-level execution will decide whether this notification brings real relief or stays on paper. Farmers and livestock owners across the affected tehsils are now looking to the administration to deliver.

(With inputs from IANS)

Key Highlights

• 80 tehsils, 14 districts: The state has classified tehsils as severely or moderately drought-affected through a Sunday notification.
• Western belt worst-hit: Jodhpur leads with 12 tehsils, followed by Jalore and Barmer with 10 each.
• Steep rain deficits: Pali recorded 58% less rain than normal, Jaisalmer 54% and Jalore 50%.
• Relief on the ground: Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg said fodder depots will be set up in affected areas.
• Six-month window: Drought-related provisions will apply for six months from the date of publication.

Rajasthan has formally declared 80 tehsils across 14 districts drought-affected, following a deficient monsoon that has left standing crops withering and raised fresh worries over water and fodder for livestock. The notification, issued on Sunday by the Disaster Management and Relief Department, classifies the tehsils as either severely or moderately drought-affected.

The declaration caps a weak season for the state. Rajasthan closed the 2026 southwest monsoon with rainfall 17.33% below normal, with the shortfall hitting western Rajasthan particularly hard. District-level figures show how uneven the damage has been: Pali recorded a 58 per cent deficit, Jaisalmer 54 per cent and Jalore 50 per cent. Banswara (39 per cent), Sirohi (36 per cent), Balotra (28 per cent), Jodhpur (27 per cent) and Dungarpur (24 per cent) also received far less rain than normal. The department said it assessed rainfall deficiency, groundwater levels, surface water availability and crop losses before issuing the notice.

The affected tehsils are spread across Jodhpur (12), Jalore (10), Barmer (10), Balotra (9), Pali (8), Dungarpur (7), Jaisalmer (7), Phalodi (7), Banswara (3), Beawar (2), Churu (2), Bikaner (2), and one each in Nagaur and Sirohi.

Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg confirmed that 10 tehsils in Jalore district are on the list. He said drought-like conditions had developed in several parts of the state, prompting the government to act. Fodder depots will be established in affected areas, and all possible assistance will be extended to farmers and livestock owners.

Why This Declaration Matters

The list tells two stories. Most of the affected tehsils sit in the arid western belt (Jodhpur, Barmer, Balotra, Jaisalmer, Phalodi and Jalore), where livestock rearing is often as important to household income as farming. A failed kharif crop there quickly turns into a fodder crisis. The inclusion of Dungarpur and Banswara in the southern tribal belt shows the deficit was not confined to the desert.

The groundwork for the decision began weeks ago. After the monsoon withdrew, the Revenue Department was asked to carry out a girdawari, a field survey of crops, in 117 tehsils, and district collectors in affected areas were authorised to approve contingency relief works of up to Rs 1 crore.

The notification brings the affected areas under applicable drought-related provisions for six months from its publication. It gives district administrations the formal basis to begin relief work, including fodder and drinking water arrangements for livestock and other assistance available under government rules.

For farmers who have already lost their standing crops, the coming months will depend on how quickly fodder depots open and water supplies reach villages. With winter approaching and the next reliable rain months away, the pace of district-level execution will decide whether this notification brings real relief or stays on paper. Farmers and livestock owners across the affected tehsils are now looking to the administration to deliver.

(With inputs from IANS)