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Maharashtra Drought Declared in 75% Tehsils, Monsoon Deficit 11.9% Raises Rabi Crop Concerns

AgricultureEconomyEnvironmentHIGH
Target:MPSCUPSC GS-IIISSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
27 Sept 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:11.9% monsoon deficit23 of 36 meteorological subdivisions affectedDuty cut: crude palm & soyabean oil from 16.5% to 11%Duty cut: sunflower oil to 5.5%Nil duty imports: arhar and urad
Bodies:Government of MaharashtraMinistry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
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What This Article Covers

1.Maharashtra declared drought in ~75% tehsils; CM warns situation could be worse than 1972 famine.

2.All-India monsoon deficit of 11.9% (June 1 to Sept 27); 23 of 36 meteorological subdivisions have >10% deficit.

3.Government cut import duties on edible oils and allowed nil-duty imports of arhar and urad; article calls for duty-free imports of all pulses.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

Maharashtra has declared drought in nearly three-fourths of its tehsils, with the southwest monsoon ending 11.9% below average. The article warns of a poor rabi harvest due to depleted water reserves and a strong El Niño, urging duty-free imports of all pulses to manage food supply.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Monsoon Deficit11.9% below historical average (June 1 - Sept 27)
Affected Subdivisions23 out of 36 meteorological subdivisions with >10% deficit
Duty Cut on Crude Palm & Soyabean OilFrom 16.5% to 11%
Duty Cut on Sunflower OilTo 5.5%
Nil Duty Imports AllowedArhar and urad

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Monsoon Deficit: 11.9% below historical average (June 1 - Sept 27)
  • ›Affected Subdivisions: 23 out of 36 meteorological subdivisions with >10% deficit
  • ›Target this Data: Monsoon deficit 11.9% (June 1 to Sept 27); 23 of 36 subdivisions affected.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (for PMFBY and drought relief).
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Drought Management Code (activated by Maharashtra).

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which ministry is primarily responsible for implementing the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) mentioned in the article?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the monsoon situation described in the article:

1. India's overall rainfall during the southwest monsoon (June 1 to Sept 27) was 11.9% below the historical average.

2. The government has reduced import duties on crude palm oil from 16.5% to 5.5%.

3. A strong El Niño phase is expected to persist through October to January-February, potentially affecting rabi crops.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the article, what is the new import duty rate on sunflower oil after the government's recent reduction?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary reason the article advocates for making imports of all pulses duty-free?

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