Drought is a complex and recurrent natural hazard in India, arising from deficient rainfall, uneven monsoon distribution, and increasing climatic variability. Its impacts are multi-dimensional, affecting physical landscapes, ecological systems, economic structures, and social well-being, thereby posing serious challenges for sustainable development. From a geographical perspective, drought must be understood not only as a meteorological phenomenon but also as a socio-economic and environmental process shaped by human–environment interactions. The physical and environmental impacts of drought include reduced soil moisture, lowering of groundwater tables, drying up of rivers, tanks, and wetlands, and increased land degradation. Prolonged drought conditions accelerate desertification, especially in arid and semi-arid regions such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, and parts of the Deccan Plateau. Vegetation stress leads to loss of biodiversity, forest degradation, and increased vulnerability to wildfires. The ecological balance is disturbed as grazing lands deteriorate, affecting both wildlife and pastoral livelihoods. The