As per data published by the government, the total land degradation in the country was estimated at 91.30 million ha during 2005–2006, while it showed a marginal decrease to 91.21 million ha during 2015-16. This is about 27.77% of the geographical area of India. Three States of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir accounted for over 40% of land degradation area. Land degradation is a pressing global issue with far-reaching consequences. It is considered a temporary or permanent impairment of productivity of land through deterioration of physical, chemical, or biological aspects. It spans various regions and is fueled by factors like deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, and climate change. The loss of fertile land not only affects food security but also increases the risk of natural disasters and contributes to the loss of biodiversity. Recently, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) announced the launch of its first-ever Data Dashboard compiling national reporting figures from 126 countries, including India. The dashboard was launched just days before the world leaders and experts would meet in Samarkand, Uzbekistan for the 21st session of the UNCCD Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 21). In the session, the delegates will review global progress made toward land degradation neutrality (LDN) and confront issues like enhancing drought resilience, promoting women’s land rights, and combating sand and dust storms. Globally, at least 100 million hectares (ha) of healthy and productive land lost each year between 2015 and 2019 The data from the dashboard revealed that between 2015 and 2019, the world lost at least 100 million hectares (ha) of healthy and productive land each year which would roughly make up twice the size of Greenland. It is also estimated to impact the lives of 1.3 billion people, who will be directly exposed to land degradation. It noted that land degradation is advancing at an astonishing rate across all regions. Further, it revealed that there are significant disparities when it comes to the proportion of degraded land per region. Sub-Saharan Africa, Western and Southern Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean experienced land degradation at rates faster than the global average, it noted. Eastern and Central Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean regions experienced the most severe degradation, affecting at least 20% of their total land area, as of 2019. However, since 2015, the proportion of land degraded in Sub-Saharan Africa has increased from 6.7% to 14.63%, and in Western Asia and the Northern African region, the same has risen from 3.78% to 7.18%. India’s total degraded land as of 2019 is equivalent to ten times the size of Belgium or 43 million football pitches As far as India is concerned, the dashboard revealed that as of 2019, a total of 30.51 million ha of India’s total reported land was degraded, which is 9.45% of the country’s landmass was degraded. In 2015, 4.42% of the country’s landmass was degraded. For comparison, India’s total degraded land as of 2019 is equivalent to ten times the size of Belgium, or 43 million football pitches. 251.71 million people or nearly 18.4% of the country’s population, were exposed to land degradation during the same period. At the national level, remote sensing data is being regularly employed in the survey of degraded soils by institutions like the ISRO, its partner institutions from state remote sensing centres, ISRO/ DOS centres and academia. Based on the mapping of land degradation for the whole land mass of India with data acquired during August to October (Kharif), November to March (Rabi) and April to May (Summer) of 2005–2006 and 2015–2016, a report was published by ISRO that helps in studying the decadal change in land degradation in the country. It also provides the category or cause of degradation. This data is sourced from Dataful. According to ISRO’s report, the total land degradation in the country was estimated at 91.30 million ha during 2005–2006, while it showed a marginal decrease to 91.21 million ha during 2015-16. This is about 27.77% of the geographical area of India. Wind and water erosion are the major causes of land degradation As of 2015-16, water erosion is the major cause of land degradation in India accounting for 509.96 Lakh ha which is 55.91% of total land degradation and 15.53% of total geographical area (TGA). Wind erosion accounted for 142.8 Lakh ha contributing to 15.66% of total land degradation in India and 4.35% of TGA. Salinisation /alkalization was spread over 64.65 Lakh ha or 7.09% of total land degradation and Acidification in over 30.41 Lakh ha (3.33% of total land degradation).