The Maharashtra government on September 26 declared drought conditions in 265 of the state's 358 talukas after deficient monsoon rain during the 2026 Kharif season. The Relief and Rehabilitation Department issued a Government Resolution based on Trigger-1 guidelines under the Drought Management Code, 2016 and a report from the Commissioner of Agriculture, IANS reported.

The state announced a 12-point relief package for affected farmers and rural households. It includes a full waiver of land revenue, restructuring of crop loans, a stay on recovery of agriculture-related bank loans, concessions on current electricity bills for agricultural pumps above 7.5 HP, and exam fee waivers for school and college students in the affected areas. The government also relaxed employment norms under the rural employment guarantee scheme and will deploy water tankers where drinking water runs short.

District collectors have been told to begin panchnama crop-loss surveys immediately, collecting geotagged photos of damaged farmland for a damage report to the government. On Sunday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said assistance would reach all affected farmers and none would be left out.

Nearly three-quarters of the state's talukas are drought-hit, and the relief rollout will decide how quickly help reaches farmers facing crop losses.