Rainfall during monsoon season and its variability govern the cropping system in the North Eastern Transitional Zone of Karnataka. The historical rainfall data of thirty four years (1976-2009) have been analyzed for establishing the long term averages of monthly, seasonal and annual rainfall and its variability. The overall mean annual rainfall in Aurad region was 846 mm, which was distributed as 673.7 mm, 101.6 mm, 60.2 mm and 10.7 mm in monsoon, post monsoon, summer and winter respectively. The coefficient of variation of 28.7 per cent indicated that rainfall was more or less stable over the years. Monthly rainfall had uni-modal peak, August receives maximum mean rainfall of 212.3 mm. The average annual rainfall of Bhalki region was 874.7 mm with average number of rainy days 51 days. In case of seasonal rainfall, the per cent contribution to the total rainfall was 76.9, 13.8, 7.8 and 1.5 per cent for monsoon, post monsoon, summer and winter seasons, respectively. August will be the wettest month with mean rainfall of 211.6 mm. The mean annual rainfall in Humnabad region is 797 mm with 27 per cent variability; with standard deviation of 216 mm, spread over 50 mean rainy days. August is the wettest month (172.7 mm) with coefficient of variation of 50 per cent and it is the highest annual rainfall contributing month (21.7%). Rainfall of June to September months shows lower coefficient of variation. The analysis of rainfall data indicates that the average annual rainfall for the Basavakalyan region will be 759 mm spread over with a mean rainy days of 49.9 days. The standard deviation and coefficient of variation for mean annual rainfall and rainy days was 179.3 mm and 23.6 per cent and 7.8 days and 15.6 per cent respectively. The lowest coefficient of variation of 45 per cent was noticed during June month with mean rainfall of 101.9 mm indicating lesser variability. The mean annual rainfall for Bidar region is 937.3 mm with coefficient of variation of 22.2 per cent indicated that the annual rainfall was more or less stable over the years. Within the rainy season, August was the highest rainfall contributing month (21.3%) followed by July (19.9%). There is ample scope for rain water harvesting from July to September which can be utilized as crop saving irrigation as well as pre sowing irrigation for succeeding Rabi crops which are generally sown on residual soil moisture