Overview
- The state government declared 265 of 358 talukas drought‑affected on Saturday, September 26, 2026, covering about 74% of Maharashtra and triggering immediate administrative relief.
- Officials activated Trigger‑1 under the Drought Management Code and ordered district collectors to conduct panchnamas that include field photographs and GPS coordinates to document crop conditions.
- A 12‑point relief package was announced to ease short‑term hardship, including land revenue concessions, restructuring and moratoriums on crop loans, electricity bill relief for agricultural pumps, water tankers and fodder supplies.
- The government said direct financial compensation for kharif crop losses will be decided only after the prescribed ground‑level assessments are complete, prompting farmers and activists to demand faster, on‑account payments.
- State data show an 18.8% rainfall deficit from June to September 18, 2026, with larger shortfalls in several divisions and El Niño cited as a contributing factor, and the drought declaration increases political pressure for quick, transparent aid delivery.