Karnataka Orders Ground Truthing In 53 More Taluks For Drought Assessment; Bengaluru South, Doddaballapur Among Areas To Be Surveyed

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Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has ordered field-level Ground Truthing in 53 additional taluks across 17 districts as the state expands its scientific assessment of crop damage and drought conditions during the Kharif 2026 season.

The 53 taluks include Bengaluru South in Bengaluru Urban district and Doddaballapur in Bengaluru Rural district, bringing parts of the Bengaluru region into the latest stage of the drought assessment exercise.

The notification, issued by the Commissionerate of the Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) on September 17, makes clear that inclusion in the Ground Truthing exercise does not by itself amount to a declaration of drought. The field findings will be used to determine whether individual taluks qualify for subsequent declaration as drought-affected under the criteria and procedure prescribed in the Manual for Drought Management, 2020.

The latest exercise follows directions given during a review meeting chaired by the Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister on September 16.

Karnataka has been assessing the drought situation in stages. Under the first Ground Truthing notification issued on August 14, 102 taluks that had qualified under Stage-II assessment were subjected to field verification. Subsequently, 101 of those taluks were declared drought-affected through a notification dated August 27, with 89 categorised as severely affected and 12 as moderately affected.

KSNDMC then carried out a scientific assessment of the remaining 139 taluks for the period from June 1 to September 2. Twenty-four of those taluks qualified for Stage-3 Ground Truthing, and the field verification process for those 24 has since been completed.

The latest assessment covers the remaining 115 taluks for the period from June 1 to September 16. Based on the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre’s Integrated Drought Assessment using Trigger-1 mandatory indicators and Trigger-2 impact indicators, 53 taluks across 17 districts have now qualified for Stage-3 Ground Truthing.

The government’s annexure also provides an initial drought assessment classification for each of the 53 taluks based on Trigger-1 and Trigger-2 indicators. The classifications range between “Moderate” and “Severe”, but the Ground Truthing exercise is required before further consideration for a formal drought declaration.

A key part of the exercise will be the use of the dedicated “Crop Loss GT” mobile application developed by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (e-Governance).

According to the notification, the application will capture crop details and extent of damage, geo-tagged photographs, GPS coordinates, land particulars and ownership details. The government says the digital process is intended to ensure transparency, accuracy and uniformity in drought assessment.

The field verification could directly determine which of the 53 taluks move towards a formal drought declaration.

Under the prescribed criteria, a taluk qualifying for Ground Truthing may qualify for declaration of drought if estimated crop loss is 33% or more. Where estimated crop loss exceeds 50%, the drought may be classified as Severe.

The notification further states that the Ground Truthing findings will determine whether drought intensity is Moderate or Severe. Where 80% or more of Ground Truthing observations show crop loss exceeding 50%, the state government has the option to upgrade the drought intensity from Moderate to Severe in accordance with the Manual for Drought Management.

The 53 taluks selected for Ground Truthing, as listed district-wise of the government notification, are:

Bengaluru Urban — Bengaluru South.
Bengaluru Rural — Doddaballapur.
Chitradurga — Chitradurga, Holalkere and Molakalmuru.
Davanagere — Harihara.
Ballari — Siruguppa.
Koppala — Koppala and Yelburga.
Kalaburagi — Chincholi, Jevargi, Sedam, Kalagi and Kamalapura.
Bidar — Kamalanagara and Hulasuru.
Belagavi — Athani, Bailhongal, Belagavi, Chikkodi, Raibagh, Kitturu, Nippani, Mudalagi and Yargatti.
Bagalkote — Badami, Hungund, Mudhol, Rabakavi Banahatti and Terdal.
Vijayapura — Muddebihal, Sindgi, Devara Hipparagi and Alamela.
Gadag — Naragund, Shirahatti and Laxmeshwar.
Haveri — Byadgi, Hanagal, Haveri, Ranebennur, Savanur and Shiggaon.
Hassan — Alur and Belur.
Udupi — Bramhavara.
Yadgir — Shorapur, Yadgir, Gurumithakala, Vadagera and Hunisgi.
Vijayanagar — Kotturu and Kudligi.

The annexure shows that Bengaluru South currently carries a “Moderate” Integrated Drought Assessment classification, while Doddaballapur is classified as “Severe” at the Trigger-1 and Trigger-2 assessment stage. These classifications are subject to the Ground Truthing process before any formal drought declaration.

Among the other taluks carrying a “Severe” assessment at this stage are Chitradurga, Holalkere, Molakalmuru, Harihara, Siruguppa, Athani, Terdal, Sindgi, Haveri, Ranebennur, Savanur and Belur. The remaining taluks in the annexure are shown as “Moderate”.

The government has prescribed a tightly defined schedule to complete the exercise.

A briefing on Ground Truthing was scheduled for September 17. Selection of crops, formation of Ground Truthing teams and randomisation of villages are to be carried out on September 17 and 18.

Field-level Ground Truthing is scheduled for September 19 and 20. The exercise must be completed on September 21, when Form 11 for each Ground Truthing village is to be submitted. The Agriculture and Horticulture departments will consolidate and collate the Form 11 data.

Deputy Commissioners of the districts concerned, who also chair the respective District Disaster Management Authorities, have been directed to undertake Ground Truthing in the 53 taluks and strictly follow both the stipulated timeline and procedures laid down in the Manual for Drought Management, 2020.

The drought assessment will not end with this round.

The notification says KSNDMC will continue weekly assessments of drought conditions until the end of the Kharif 2026 season because of the possibility of further deterioration in crop conditions, particularly in view of the prolonged dry spell and the India Meteorological Department’s below-normal rainfall forecast for September 2026.

KSNDMC’s fortnightly assessment will also be placed before the Cabinet Sub-Committee for consideration and approval for Ground Truthing in qualifying taluks.

The government has therefore made Ground Truthing a continuing process through the end of the Kharif season. Taluks that meet the criteria in subsequent weekly assessments could be brought into later rounds of field verification.

The September 17 notification was signed by KSDMA Commissioner Honnamba S., IAS, Revenue Department (Disaster Management and SSP).