This document summarizes progress in breeding rice varieties with improved drought tolerance at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Several new rice varieties with 1-1.2 tonnes/hectare yield advantages under moderate to severe drought have been released in countries like India, Nepal, and the Philippines. Promising lines have been identified with high yields under both normal and drought conditions. Major drought tolerance quantitative trait loci have been introgressed into popular rice varieties like IR64 and Swarna, resulting in improved drought tolerance while maintaining high yields under normal conditions.