In recent several decade years, under the influence of global change and rapid socioeconomic development, the problem of global environment was distinguished. One of the outstanding problems is drought, which is happening around the world with increasing frequency. Drought has become a global issue. Actually, drought is an inevitable recurrent climatic event and a natural disaster affecting the greatest spatial extent. It also has wide-reaching impacts on society and environment. Because of its dual characteristics in both the natural and the social fields, drought has drawn widespread attention in the geosciences research community, the government and the society. Water scarcity, food crisis and ecological deterioration (for example the desertification etc.) result from drought, especially the heavy drought, direct menace arrives the long-term food security and social stability. In China, drought is also a natural disaster with the highest frequency, the widest influence area, and the most far-reaching influence on the social economy. With consideration of the above problems and the challenge from drought, this paper introduces the national demand for drought research and the main study progress in the field of drought. Controversial questions in the field of drought and key scientific issues faced to the national demand are presented. And a preliminary analysis on the trend of development in the future 5 to 10 years in the field of drought research is carried out. Key words�FDrought�GService demand�GProgress�GChina