Drought

Beginning in December 2024 and ending in April 2025, La Niña is defined by the cooling of ocean surface temperatures, changes in wind and precipitation patterns, an increase in Atlantic hurricanes, drier conditions in the South, and wetter conditions in the Northwest.

The minister said that the Farmers Distress Inde is designed to develop a forewarning system to take preventive measures to identify farmer distress, providing alerts three months in advance.

Choudhary said that to assist states in regulating groundwater resources, the ministry of Jal Shakti drafted a Model ‘Groundwater (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Bill.’ This bill provides a regulatory framework to curb indiscriminate groundwater extraction while promoting rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge.

Given the complex history of water disputes between the two nations, continued diplomatic engagement and technical collaboration will be essential in ensuring a fair and sustainable solution for both sides, officials say.

The long-term assessment of the CRI 2025, covering data from 1993 to 2022, places India as the sixth most affected country globally due to extreme weather events. Over this period, India reported a staggering loss of 80,000 lives and economic damages amounting to $200 billion.

With the successful completion of more than 68,000 Sarovars ahead of schedule, the government has now launched the second phase of Mission Amrit Sarovar. This phase will emphasise ensuring sustainable water availability and climate resilience, with community participation (Jan Bhagidari) being the core focus.

Global temperatures are likely to reach 2°C by 2045. It is estimated that this will trigger a rise in sea levels by several meters, the melting of polar caps, and irreversible damage to critical ecosystems around the world.

According to the Meteorological Department, the period from September 1 to January 15 saw a drastic reduction in rainfall, with Sindh experiencing a 52 per cent decrease and Balochistan witnessing a 45 per cent shortfall.