Context: Recently, a document published by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) named Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas shows that Land Degradation and Desertification has increased significantly in recent years.
Key Findings
Land Degradation

• Some 97.85 million hectares (MHA) of India’s total geographical area (TGA) of 328.72 MHA underwent land degradation during 2018-19.
• Land degradation within dryland regions (arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions) is termed ‘desertification’.
• This means that 29.7 per cent of the country’s land in that year became degraded.

Past 20 years trend

• In 2003-05, 94.53 MHA (28.76 per cent of the TGA) underwent land degradation. 
• The number increased to 96.40 MHA (29.32 per cent of the TGA) in 2011-13.

Desertification increased

• Besides land degradation, desertification had also increased. Some 83.69 MHA underwent desertification in 2018-19. This was greater than the 81.48 MHA in 2003-2005 and 82.64 mha in 2011-13 that underwent desertification.

State Wise breakup

• Around 23.79 per cent of the area undergoing desertification/land degradation with respect to TGA of the country was contributed by Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.
• India witnessed an increase in the level of desertification in 28 of 31 states and Union territories between 2011-13 and 2018-19, a closer look at data in the atlas showed. 
• This included Goa and Odisha, where desertification had declined between 2003-05 and 2011-13.
• Between 2003-05 and 2011-13, 25 of the 31 states and Union territories had seen an increase in the level of desertification.
• However, land degradation and desertification were declining in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana in 2018-2019.

Why does desertification occur?

• Rainfall and surface runoff:  Loss of soil cover, mainly due to rainfall and surface runoff, was one of the biggest reasons for desertification. It was responsible for 11.01 per cent of the desertification in the country, the ISRO atlas said.
• Water erosion: In 2011-13, water erosion was responsible for 10.98 per cent of desertification in the country. In 2003-05, it was responsible for 10.83 per cent of desertification.
• Vegetation degradation: Vegetation degradation was found to be responsible for 9.15 per cent of desertification in the country. In 2003-05, it was responsible for 8.60 per cent of desertification.
• Wind erosion: Wind erosion was found to be responsible for 5.46 per cent of the desertification in India. In 2003-05, it was responsible for 5.58 per cent of desertification.

Road Ahead

• Desertification and land degradation are major threats to agricultural productivity in India. Combating desertification and land degradation is one of the thrust areas identified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India. 
• The PM of India mentioned that India was working to restore 26 MHA of degraded land by 2030 while speaking at the UN High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought.