India calls for a shift from Drought Response to Drought Resilience at UNCCD CoP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

At the 17th Conference of Parties (CoP17) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change called for a global shift from reactive drought response to proactive, technology-enabled resilience. Highlighting drought as a major development challenge affecting water, food, biodiversity, and economic stability, India outlined its multi-institutional approach. Key strategies mentioned include satellite-based drought assessments, catchment and riverscape forestry, river rejuvenation, revival of traditional water bodies, hill spring restoration, a pan-India watershed programme using a ridge-to-valley approach, household drinking water security programmes, and technology-driven crop insurance. India stressed that drought must be treated as a predictable and preventable risk rather than a recurring disaster.