Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara has sought ₹20,585.73 crore in financial assistance from the central government to address the impact of drought across the state. In separate letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, he requested the release of funds under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
According to the state government, Karnataka received significantly below-normal rainfall during the 2026 southwest monsoon, affecting agricultural activities and rural livelihoods. The government has declared 226 taluks drought-affected and reported crop damage across 57.93 lakh hectares.
In his letters, Parameshwara stated that Karnataka received 551 mm of rainfall during the monsoon, compared with the normal level of 852 mm, representing a deficit of approximately 35%.
According to state data, this was the state's second-lowest monsoon rainfall year since 1956 and ranked among the seven years with the lowest rainfall recorded since 1901.
The rainfall deficit affected agriculture and rural livelihoods across the state. Crop damage has been reported across 57.93 lakh hectares, including 53.92 lakh hectares of agricultural crops and 4.01 lakh hectares of horticultural crops.
The state government has estimated the total economic loss, based on agricultural costs, at ₹62,481.88 crore. The financial assistance sought from the Centre is intended to support affected farmers and address requirements in other drought-hit sectors.
In its memorandum to the Centre, the Karnataka government proposed assistance of ₹20,585.73 crore. This includes ₹6,128.70 crore in input subsidies to compensate for crop losses and ₹12,146.99 crore to support the livelihoods of 61.91 lakh small and marginal farmers.
The state has also requested ₹1,727 crore for drinking water supply and ₹583.04 crore for animal husbandry and livestock protection.
Parameshwara said the drought had significantly affected the incomes of small and marginal farmers and stressed the need for timely financial assistance.
The proposed livelihood support has been calculated at ₹327 per day for 60 days. It is intended to assist farmers whose regular income has been affected by crop damage.
The drought has also raised concerns about access to water and fodder for livestock. To address these requirements, the state government has sought assistance to establish 476 cattle camps and 583 fodder banks.
The proposed cattle camps would help affected livestock owners care for their animals, while the fodder banks would support fodder availability during the drought. These measures have been included in the state's relief proposal to help protect rural livelihoods.
Parameshwara has also raised concerns about the use of data from the 2015-16 Agricultural Census to calculate compensation for crop losses. He said reliance on the older figures could result in Karnataka receiving approximately ₹1,669.50 crore less in relief.
He has urged the Centre to use Karnataka's FRUITS database, which contains updated information on farmer registrations and beneficiaries. According to the state government, using the database would help identify eligible farmers and assess their assistance requirements more accurately.
The Karnataka government has requested an early decision on its relief proposal, citing the scale of drought-related losses. The proposed assistance covers crop damage and farmer livelihoods, along with separate allocations for drinking water and livestock protection.
