The entire country has been delineated into 126 agro-climatic zones by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Similarly, Rajasthan has been divided into 10 agro-climatic zones. The Agro-climatic zones of Rajasthan are as follows:
- Arid North Western Sandy Plain
- Irrigated North Western Plain
- Hyper Arid Partial Irrigated Zone
- Transitional Plain of Inland Drainage
- Alluvial Plain of Luni Basin
- Semi Arid Eastern Plain
- Flood Prone Eastern Plain
- Sub Humid Southern Plain and Aravallis
- Humid Southern Plain
- Humid South Eastern Plain
These zones have been classified on the basis of agro-climatic parameters like rainfall, temperature regime, topography, soil characteristics, cropping pattern and irrigation availability.
Major Changes in Rajasthan’s Agro-Climatic Zones Due to Climate Change : CAZRI New Report
Considering the large-scale impact of climate change, the Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI) has re-defined the agro-climatic zones of Rajasthan and prepared a new report. Although the number of zones remains 10, the districts and geographical areas included in each zone have changed.
- These changes will significantly affect policy decisions related to agriculture planning, crop pattern, irrigation, MSP procurement and other farming strategies.
- CAZRI has submitted this report to the Chief Secretary, recommending its implementation at the policy level.
- The study was conducted by Former CAZRI Scientist Dr. D. V. Singh.
- Earlier, in 1979, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) had classified Rajasthan into 10 agro-climatic zones.
According to the new report:
- Bikaner has now overtaken Jaisalmer as the most desert-dominant district.
- The climate of Jaipur now resembles the climate of Sikar and Jhunjhunu.
| Zone (Agro-Climatic Region) | Old Districts | New Districts |
| Arid Western Desert Region | Barmer district and parts of Jodhpur district | Jalore, Barmer |
| Irrigated Region | Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh | Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh |
| Arid Partially Irrigated | Bikaner, Jaisalmer and parts of Churu | Bikaner, Churu |
| Internal Drainage Transitional Zone | Nagaur, Sikar, Jhunjhunu | Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Jaipur |
| Luni Basin | Pali, Jalore, Sirohi | Ajmer, Pali, Sirohi (including Revdar and Shivganj) |
| Semi-Arid Zone | New Zone | Jodhpur, Nagaur, Jaisalmer |
| Flood-Prone Zone | Alwar, Dholpur, Karauli, Bharatpur, Sawai Madhopur, | Alwar, Dholpur, Karauli, Bharatpur, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk and Ajmer districts |
| Sub-Humid Plains & Aravalli | Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Sirohi, Bhilwara | Udaipur, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh and Rajsamand districts, along with the Abu Road and Pindwara regions of Sirohi |
| Humid Plains | Banswara, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh | Banswara, Dungarpur |
| Humid South-Eastern Zone | Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar | Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar and Pratapgarh |
Key Changes at a Glance
- Tonk and Dausa moved to the Flood-Prone Zone, removed from the Semi-Arid Zone.
- Jaipur shifted to the Internal Drainage Zone, grouped with Sikar and Jhunjhunu.
- Sirohi divided into two different zones, making maize cultivation recommendations possible in certain areas.
- Udaipur and Chittorgarh removed from the rice-dominant zone.
- Due to Narmada canal entry, Barmer and Jalore now share similar climatic characteristics — separated from the Godwad region.
- Pratapgarh added to the Hadoti zone, where mustard, soybean, and sorghum cultivation is encouraged.
- Jaisalmer, earlier the most drought-affected zone has now been placed in a new cluster with Jodhpur and Nagaur.
1. Arid Western Desert Region
- Rainfall: The mean annual rainfall in this zone is 100 to 400 mm. The zone experiences erratic and uncertain rainfall and frequent droughts.
- Area: The plain is characterised by a vast sandy expanse with sand-dunes, sandy plain pediments and palayas. The soils are coarse-textured, with CaCO₃ and gypsum. This physiographic zone lies in the north-western part of the state, covering Barmer and Jalore district (instead of earlier “Barmer district and parts of Jodhpur district”).
- Groundwater & livelihoods: Groundwater is deep and saline; only in some places are tube-well waters used for irrigation. Rain-fed agriculture prevails in pockets, and livelihoods are primarily livestock-based.
2. Irrigated North Western Plain
- Area: This plain extends in the northern part of the state in Ganganagar, Hanumangarh district.
- As the zone is irrigated by network of Indira Gandhi Canal, Bhakra and Gang canal, it is intensively cultivated.
- The plain is dominantly covered by the medium and fine textured deep to very deep soils. The bed of River Ghagghar stretching from Suratgarh to Anupgarh is fine textured and intensively cultivated. I
- n addition, in the southern and eastern part the region there is vast Aeolian plain covered with dunes with small area of deep buried pediments.
3. Hyper Arid Partial Irrigated Zone
- Rainfall: The normal rainfall in the zone is 185 to 390 mm.
- Area: This zone now covers the arid region of Bikaner and Churu districts (earlier it included Bikaner, Jaisalmer and parts of Churu)where the farmers have partial dependence on the sources of irrigation.
- The region has desert soil characterized by sand dunes and aeolian soil. The soil is loamy coarse in texture and with calcareous characteristics.
4. Transitional Plain of Inland Drainage
- Rainfall: The zone has average rainfall of 300-400mm.
- Area: This plain is spread across the central part of the state, covering the western, eastern and northern regions of Nagaur, and now includes Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Jaipur districts (earlier it covered Sikar, Churu and Jhunjhunu districts).
- There is no drainage out of this area.
- The zone is covered with sandy plain, sand dunes and occasional hills. The area distinguishes from western sandy plain in having better Livelihood of villagers depends mainly on livestock rearing along with some rain-fed farming.
5. Alluvial Plain of Luni Basin
- Rainfall ranges between 400 and 500mm.
- Area: The physiographic zone is located in the central part of the state where a number of ephemeral streams and the River Luni with its tributaries flow through the region. It now covers Ajmer, Pali, Sirohi (including Revdar and Shivganj) (earlier it covered Pali, Jalore, Sirohi districts).
- Water is saline in this zone.
- Cultivation of cash crops is Rainfed or done with the help of tube-wells. Dominant soils are medium to fine textured.
6. Semi Arid Plain
- Rainfall: Average Rainfall in the zone about 500- 700mm.
- Area: Earlier, the zone covered Jaipur, Ajmer, Dausa and Tonk, but it has now been redefined to include Jodhpur, Nagaur and Jaisalmer districts.
- Occasional sand dunes and buried pediments and scattered hills with substantial area under alluvium are features of this zone.
7. Flood Prone Plain
- Rainfall: The rainfall in the zone is 600-700mm.
- Area: This zone developed on the alluvium deposited by the River Yamuna and its tributaries and is spread over the eastern part of the state forming the western fringe of the Indo-Gangetic plain. It now extends across Alwar, Dholpur, Karauli, Bharatpur, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk and Ajmer districts (earlier it was limited to Alwar, Dholpur, Karauli, Bharatpur and Sawai Madhopur districts). Soils are yellowish-brown to dark yellowish brown, sandy loam to clay loam and non-calcareous.
- A large area of this zone is under kharif and rabi crops.
8. Sub Humid Southern Plain and Aravallis
- The zone receives 700-900mm rainfall.
- High hills are scattered through the zone and there is a contiguous appearance of the Aravalli hills, running south to north.
- Area: The zone extends in the southern part of the state and now covers Udaipur, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh and Rajsamand districts, along with the Abu Road and Pindwara regions of Sirohi (earlier it included Bhilwara, Rajsamand, Sirohi, Udaipur and Chittorgarh districts in entirety).
- Hills and pediments are under hills for rest which support natural vegetation cover including trees, shrubs and grasses.
- Cultivated land occurs in between the hills.
- Medium to fine textured deep soils are dominant in this region.
9. Humid Southern Plain
- This zone receives 900-1000mm rainfall.
- Area: This plain, characterized by hills and valley fills, is spread in the southern part of the state and now includes Banswara and Dungarpur districts (earlier it covered Dungarpur, Banswara and Pratapgarh districts).
- In Banswara and Pratapgarh districts the soils formed from lava flow of basalt are also found.
- In between, scattered areas of deep buried pediments are also encountered.
- The hills are covered with thick density of trees, shrubs and grasses.
10. Humid South Eastern Plain
- This zone receives the highest rainfall in the state of around 700-1000mm.
- Area: This zone lies in the south-eastern part of the state and now includes Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar and Pratapgarh districts (earlier it covered Jhalawar, Baran, Kota and Bundi districts).
- The landscape is characterized by hills pediments and vast alluvial plain formed by the rivers Chambal, Parbati, Parwan, Kalisindh and their tributaries. Because of these rivers deep gullies and ravines have been formed. Because of the presence of fine textured alluvium deposited by the rivers in this zone the land is very productive
Map of Agro-climatic Zones of Rajasthan
