Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara has sought urgent drought relief of ₹20,585.73 crore from the Centre after the state recorded a 35% southwest monsoon deficit and reported agricultural losses of ₹62,481.88 crore. He made the demand in letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
According to the letter, Karnataka received 551 mm of rainfall against the normal 852 mm during the 2026 southwest monsoon. The rainfall recorded this year was the state’s second-lowest since 1956 and seventh-lowest since 1901, Parameshwara said.
The state government has already declared 226 taluks drought-hit. Rainfall deficiency has damaged crops across 57.93 lakh hectares, including 53.92 lakh hectares of agricultural crops and 4.01 lakh hectares of horticultural crops. The reported loss has been calculated on the basis of cultivation costs.
Parameshwara also referred to the visit by the Centre’s drought assessment team, which inspected Karnataka’s situation from October 3 to 6. He urged the Union government to promptly place the team’s recommendations before the high-level committee and to examine Karnataka’s comprehensive drought-relief memorandum without delay.
The state has requested ₹6,128.70 crore as crop-loss compensation and ₹12,146.99 crore as livelihood assistance for 61.91 lakh small and marginal farmers. The proposed livelihood support has been calculated at ₹327 per day for 60 days. The state has also sought ₹1,727 crore for drinking-water supply and ₹583.04 crore for animal husbandry and livestock protection.
The demand covers measures for livestock, including the establishment of 476 cow shelters and 583 fodder banks. The state has said immediate assistance is needed for small and marginal farmers whose livelihoods have been severely affected by the drought.
A significant part of the letter concerns the data used to calculate crop-loss compensation. Parameshwara said the Centre was relying on agricultural census data from 2015–16, which is 11 years old. Using the older dataset could result in a shortfall of ₹1,669.50 crore in assistance to Karnataka, he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister asked the Centre to use updated farmer and agricultural records from Karnataka’s FRUITS software to identify beneficiaries more accurately and estimate compensation. The state government uses the platform to maintain farmer and crop-related information.
Parameshwara also called for a revision of the existing crop-loss compensation norms, citing the continuing rise in agricultural production costs. He asked that the compensation framework be reviewed with the period of the 16th Finance Commission in mind and that relief amounts be fixed accordingly.
The state’s request now awaits consideration by the Centre and the relevant high-level committee. The next official step is the processing of the drought assessment team’s recommendations and Karnataka’s comprehensive relief memorandum.
