Maharashtra drought: Centre sends inter-ministerial team
Why in the news
The Union government set up a 10-member Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) on 5 October 2026 to study drought conditions in Maharashtra.
Key facts
- Team head: Muktanand Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- Size: 10 members drawn from several ministries and technical bodies.
- Drought-hit area: the state declared 265 talukas drought-affected through a Government Resolution of 26 September 2026.
- Around 80% of the state’s geographical area is reported to be under severe agricultural distress after an erratic monsoon.
- Framework: assessment under the Manual for Drought Management, 2020.
- Relief: findings will guide support from the NDRF and SDRF.
Who is on the team
| Type | Represented bodies |
|---|---|
| Ministries/Departments | Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; Finance (Expenditure); Jal Shakti; Drinking Water and Sanitation; Food and Public Distribution; Animal Husbandry and Dairying; Rural Development |
| Policy/technical | NITI Aayog; Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre; Crop Division of the Agriculture Ministry |
About the drought assessment process
The central team will check conditions on the ground in the affected talukas. Its assessment, carried out under the Manual for Drought Management, 2020, will feed into decisions on relief from the National Disaster Response Fund and the State Disaster Response Fund.
Exam angle
- Know the roles of NDRF and SDRF in disaster relief funding.
- Remember the Manual for Drought Management, 2020.
- Note the technical member: Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre.