Karnataka drought 2026: 23 more taluks added, total hits 124
Synopsis
Karnataka's drought crisis is widening faster than the monsoon is receding. With 124 taluks now officially drought-hit — 110 of them severely — and a third assessment phase already covering 53 more taluks across 17 districts, the state faces one of its most expansive drought declarations in recent memory, with farmer relief at stake.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka has declared a total of 124 taluks drought-affected, following a second-phase assessment announced on 17 September 2026 .
The second phase added 23 taluks — 21 severely and 2 moderately drought-affected.
The first phase had declared 101 taluks drought-hit, including 89 in the severe category.
The government is using the 'Crop Loss GT' mobile app for geo-tagged, GPS-verified field assessments.
Field teams will visit selected villages on 19–20 September ; final reports due by 21 September .
A third phase of ground-truthing covers 53 taluks in 17 districts , with monitoring to continue through the end of the southwest monsoon season.
Karnataka has declared 23 additional taluks as drought-hit in the second phase of its assessment, pushing the total count of drought-affected taluks across the state to 124, Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara announced on Thursday, 17 September 2026. The escalation follows deficient southwest monsoon rainfall and underscores the deepening agricultural crisis facing farmers across multiple districts.
Phase-wise assessment breakdown
In the first phase, the Karnataka government conducted field inspections across 102 taluks and declared 101 of them drought-affected — 89 classified as severely drought-hit and 12 as moderately drought-hit. The latest second-phase declaration adds 23 taluks, of which 21 are categorised as severely drought-affected and two as moderately drought-affected.
The 21 severely drought-affected taluks in the second phase include Tiptur, Karatagi, Manvi, Sindhanur, Sirwar, Afzalpur, Aland, Chittapur, Kalaburagi, Yadrami, Shahabad, Bhalki, Basavanabagewadi, Babaleshwar, Tikota, Rattihalli, Hubballi, Navalgund, Hubballi City, Annigeri and Kadur. Ponnampet and Virajpet have been designated moderately drought-affected.
Technology-driven, transparent survey process
The government is deploying the 'Crop Loss GT' mobile application to ensure accuracy and transparency in its assessments. The app records geo-tagged photographs, GPS coordinates, agricultural land details, and the extent of crop damage on-site. This marks a shift toward data-backed drought documentation, reducing the risk of exclusions or manipulation in relief disbursal.
Field teams are scheduled to visit selected villages on 19 and 20 September to directly assess crop damage. Deputy Commissioners and concerned officials have been directed to submit final reports by 21 September.
Third phase already in motion
Based on rainfall data recorded between 1 June and 16 September, along with soil moisture levels, crop conditions, and other scientific parameters, the government has selected 53 taluks across 17 districts for third-phase ground-truthing. Monitoring will continue until the end of the southwest monsoon season, with additional taluks to be included in further rounds if conditions warrant.
Government commitment to farmers
Deputy Chief Minister Parameshwara stated that the government's primary focus is to ensure no farmer is excluded from genuine crop-loss documentation. 'The actual situation of the difficulties faced by farmers should come to the government's attention. Our aim is to ensure that no farmer is left out of the documentation of genuine crop loss,' he said. He added that relief assistance would be extended in line with rules and based on verified crop-loss data from the scientific assessment.
With a third phase of evaluations underway and the monsoon season yet to conclude, the total count of drought-hit taluks in Karnataka could climb further in the days ahead.
Point of View
Technology-assisted drought declaration is methodologically more rigorous than past blanket surveys, but the real test lies in disbursal speed — historically, the gap between declaration and relief reaching farmers has been the system's weakest link. With 53 more taluks under third-phase scrutiny and the monsoon season not yet over, the final count could significantly exceed 124. The deployment of the 'Crop Loss GT' app is a welcome accountability tool, but its effectiveness depends entirely on whether the data it captures translates into timely compensation rather than archival records. State governments have often over-counted taluks at the declaration stage and under-delivered at the relief stage — Karnataka must break that pattern.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many taluks has Karnataka declared drought-hit in 2026?
As of 17 September 2026, Karnataka has declared a total of 124 taluks as drought-affected across two phases of assessment. Of these, 110 are categorised as severely drought-hit and 14 as moderately drought-hit.
Which taluks were added in Karnataka's second phase drought declaration?
The second phase added 23 taluks: 21 severely affected — including Tiptur, Karatagi, Manvi, Sindhanur, Kalaburagi, Hubballi, Kadur and others — and 2 moderately affected, namely Ponnampet and Virajpet.
What is the 'Crop Loss GT' app used by the Karnataka government?
The 'Crop Loss GT' mobile application is being used by the Karnataka government to conduct transparent, technology-driven drought assessments. It records geo-tagged photographs, GPS data, agricultural land details, and on-site crop damage information to ensure accurate documentation.
When will Karnataka complete its third phase of drought assessment?
Field visits for the third phase are scheduled for 19 and 20 September, covering 53 taluks across 17 districts selected based on rainfall data from 1 June to 16 September. Final reports from Deputy Commissioners are due by 21 September 2026.
What relief measures are being planned for drought-affected farmers in Karnataka?
Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara has stated that relief assistance will be extended as per established rules, based on verified crop-loss data from the scientific assessments. The government has committed to ensuring no farmer with genuine crop loss is excluded from the documentation process.
