India's Drought Future: A Closer Look at Climate Change Impacts

Climate change is making droughts worse, and India is feeling the heat. Past studies tried to predict droughts but had problems. They used models that weren't always accurate and focused on specific areas or future scenarios. This made it hard to plan effectively. A new approach called the Drought Prone Index (DPI) is changing the game. It uses a smart method to predict drought frequency and severity for two time periods: near future (2024-2060) and far future (2061-2100). To make predictions more reliable, the study combines different models with varying weights, reducing bias. The results show a mixed bag. Some regions will see more rain and higher temperatures, while others, like Northeast India and the Western Ghats, might get less rain. Even though droughts won't necessarily happen more often, they will likely be more severe. This research is a wake-up call. It shows that climate change is a big deal when it comes to droughts. Policymakers and stakeholders can use these findings to make better decisions about resource allocation and drought mitigation strategies.