Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday, 26 September 2026, formally declared drought across 265 of the state's 358 talukas, announcing 12 relief measures for farmers, agricultural labourers, students, and livestock in affected areas. The declaration, issued through a Government Resolution (GR) under the Drought Management Code 2016, follows a Kharif 2026 season review by the State Agriculture Commissioner that confirmed drought-like conditions across six revenue divisions.

Scale of the Drought Declaration

The 265 talukas where Trigger-1 (First Trigger) has been activated span all major revenue divisions: 12 talukas in the Thane division, 49 in Nashik, 35 in Pune, 74 in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 56 in Amravati, and 39 in Nagpur. The trigger was applied based on rainfall deficits and other contributing factors recorded from June 2026 to the present date. Notably, no talukas from Thane and Palghar districts are included in the current list.

In the Thane revenue division, affected talukas include Shrivardhan in Raigad district, Ratnagiri, Sangameshwar, and Rajapur in Ratnagiri district, and Sawantwadi, Dodamarg, Kankavli, Kudal, Vaibhavwadi, Malvan, Devgad, and Vengurla in Sindhudurg district. The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division — covering Jalna, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Nanded, Parbhani, and Hingoli districts — accounts for the single largest chunk with 74 talukas.

The 12 Relief Measures

Chief Minister Fadnavis outlined the following concessions for drought-affected talukas: exemption from land revenue; restructuring of crop loans; a stay on recovery of agriculture-related loans; concessions on electricity bills for agricultural pumps above 7.5 HP capacity (bills for pumps up to that capacity have already been waived); fee waiver for school and college students in examinations; and relaxation of norms under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to maximise work deployment.

Additional measures include deployment of water tankers for drinking water supply where needed; no disconnection of electricity to agricultural pumps in scarcity-declared villages; guaranteed food grain supply to prevent shortages; adequate fodder arrangements for livestock; and initiation of water conservation works alongside planning for drinking water and livestock water requirements.

'Drought has been declared in 265 talukas across the state. The government has decided to implement 12 measures and concessions to provide relief to farmers, students, agricultural labourers, citizens, and livestock in these talukas,' Fadnavis said.

Survey Process and Field Action

Immediately following the GR, Fadnavis directed all concerned District Collectors to initiate spot inspections — known as panchnamas — without delay. Crop condition reports are to be compiled using photographs alongside GPS coordinates, documenting the status of standing crops in surveyed areas. The Revenue Department, Agriculture Department, and all related agencies have been instructed to work 'with sensitivity and coordination' and maintain continuous field-level communication.

'Due to a lack of rainfall, farmers are facing significant hardships. Immediate surveys will have to be conducted in the talukas where drought conditions have been declared,' Fadnavis said, emphasising priority action.

Financial Relief and What Comes Next

Fadnavis clarified that financial relief for crop loss will be announced through a separate GR once all prescribed procedural requirements — including the completion of accurate panchnamas — are fulfilled. He said the government has placed 'special emphasis' on the accuracy of the survey process before committing specific compensation figures. The Chief Minister had earlier undertaken a personal field tour across drought-affected regions, visiting farms and meeting farmers directly before Saturday's formal declaration.

With surveys now formally underway and compensation details to follow, the pace and coverage of the panchnama process will determine how quickly relief reaches Maharashtra's distressed farming communities.