Drought is a prolonged period of below-normal precipitation resulting in water scarcity that adversely affects natural ecosystems, agriculture, economy, and society. It is a slow-onset disaster whose impacts accumulate over time and vary across regions depending on climate, land use, water availability, and socio-economic conditions. India, with its dependence on the southwest monsoon and large agrarian population, is highly vulnerable to recurrent droughts. Nearly two-thirds of the country is susceptible to varying degrees of drought, especially the arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of central India. The impacts of drought are multidimensional, affecting environmental, economic, social, agricultural, and institutional systems simultaneously. Environmental impacts include depletion of surface and groundwater resources, drying of rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and wetlands, degradation of vegetation, increased soil erosion, desertification, and decline in biodiversity. Forest ecosystems become more vulnerable to wildfires, while reduced soil moisture affects natural regeneration of vegetation and ecosystem productivity. Agriculture is the most severely affected sector because of its direct dependence on rainfall. Deficient rainfall delays sowing, reduces crop yields, causes crop failure, and lowers agricultural productivity. Rainfed farming regions experience severe losses in cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and fodder production. Livestock suffer from inadequate grazing land, scarcity of drinking water, reduced milk production, and increased mortality. Fisheries and allied activities also experience adverse effects due to shrinking water bodies. Economic impacts include reduced farm income, unemployment, decline in rural purchasing power, and increased indebtedness among farmers. Drought disrupts agro-based industries and affects food supply chains, leading to inflation in