Drought is a recurrent and complex natural hazard in India, arising from inadequate and erratic rainfall, high evapotranspiration, overexploitation of water resources, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. Owing to its diverse physiography, monsoon-dependent agriculture, and uneven water distribution, large parts of the country are chronically or periodically affected by drought. Understanding the spatial distribution of drought-prone areas and the government policies aimed at drought management is essential from the perspective of disaster management, as drought has long-term impacts on food security, livelihoods, health, and ecological sustainability. Drought-prone areas in India are generally identified based on low and variable rainfall, frequency of drought occurrence, soil type, irrigation coverage, and dependence on rain-fed agriculture. Broadly, these areas are concentrated in the arid, semi-arid, and sub-humid regions of the country. The arid zone includes the western parts of Rajasthan, particularly districts such as Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner, and Jodhpur, which receive less than 250 mm of annual rainfall. This region is characterized by sandy soils, high temperatures, scanty vegetation, and frequent meteorological droughts. The arid region also extends into parts of Gujarat, especially Kutch and western Saurashtra, where low rainfall and saline soils exacerbate drought conditions. The semi-arid regions form the largest drought-prone belt in India and cover parts of central, western, and southern India. In Maharashtra, districts of Marathwada and Vidarbha such as Beed, Latur, Osmanabad, Solapur, Yavatmal, and Wardha are frequently affected by drought due to low rainfall, poor water storage, and high dependence on water-intensive crops. In Karnataka, the northern interior districts like Raichur, Kalaburagi, Bidar, Ballari, and Chitradurga, as well as parts of southern interior Karnataka, are drought-prone because of erratic monsoon patterns and limited irrigation. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh also contain significant drought-affected areas, particularly in districts like Mahabubnagar, Anantapur, Kurnool, and Prakasam, where rainfall variability and overuse of groundwater are major concerns. In central