Monsoons

Kharif sowing has picked up pace, narrowing the acreage gap with last year, but below-normal monsoon forecasts and lower reservoir levels remain concerns

India is the ‌world's largest rice exporter, accounting for about 40% of global shipments and the biggest importer of vegetable oils such as palm oil, soyoil and sunflower oil

Keeping in mind the factors on crop prospects, it stands to reason that rate cuts are out, and an unchanged position can be expected.

Erratic monsoon rains have slowed kharif sowing in Rajasthan, leaving key crops below target and raising the risk of delayed planting and resowing

Mumbai and Chennai use systems designed to predict where rain may cause flooding, but street-level warnings need much more than rainfall forecasts

Over a dozen lives lost; economic loss pegged at over ₹1,000 crore

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday issued a red alert for Mumbai for Saturday and Sunday, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated locations, civic officials said. A red alert was also issued for the neighbouring Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts. Mumbai has been battered by rains throughout this week following the late onset of the monsoon, throwing normal life out of gear. As per the IMD's district-wise forecast issued on Friday afternoon, the city is likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with isolated extremely heavy spells on July 4 and 5. The probability of the forecast was categorised as "very likely". The IMD also forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Mumbai on Monday, while heavy rainfall is likely at a few places on Tuesday. As per BMC officials, neighbouring Thane and Palghar districts have also been placed under a red alert for Saturday and Sunday

The weather department said conditions remain favourable for the further advance of the southwest monsoon

July rainfall is expected to be less than 94% of the long-term average of about 28 centimeters, largely due to the emergence of an El Niño weather pattern in the Pacific Ocean

Reports of setbacks to the sowing of pulses such as tur, moong and urad in parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra underline the vulnerability of rainfed farming

After a swift onset over Kerala and rapid early advances, the southwest monsoon has lost momentum across India, leaving many states facing rainfall deficits and water concerns

The impact of El Nino weather phenomenon, linked with a weaker monsoon in India, is likely to be "relatively severe" in 12 states, including Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, in the Kharif season, according to the agriculture ministry, which on Tuesday directed coordinated action through district-level machinery in the most vulnerable regions. Other states likely to be impacted by El Nino include Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Odisha, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. "In 9-10 states where the impact of El Nino may be relatively higher, coordinated meetings should be organised with District Magistrates, Agriculture Departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and other extension systems of the identified districts," Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who chaired the weekly review meeting on Kharif 2026 preparations, said. The minister also stressed the need for advance contingency planning in rain-deficient districts, while also pushing f

El Nino conditions are currently present over the equatorial Pacific Ocean and are expected to strengthen further during the southwest monsoon season, the IMD said on Friday. The atmosphere has responded to the warming sea surface temperatures, and the coupled ocean-atmosphere system now exhibits characteristics consistent with El Nino conditions, it said. "Forecasts from the Monsoon Mission Coupled Forecast System (MMCFS) indicate a further strengthening of El Nino conditions during the southwest monsoon season," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The last time El Nino conditions developed was in 2023. Since 2000, these conditions have emerged in 2002, 2009 and 2015.

Temperatures are expected to rise across north and central India over the next two days before thunderstorms and rain bring relief; meanwhile southwest monsoon has advanced further into India

The monsoon has missed its expected onset date of May 26 in Kerala but has further advanced into some more parts of the southwest and southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep area and Bay of Bengal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday. The IMD had earlier estimated that the monsoon would arrive in Kerala on May 26 with a model error of 4 days. The monsoon usually sets over Kerala around June 1, marking the beginning of the monsoon season (June to September) in the country. Last year, the onset of monsoon happened on May 24, according to the department. In a statement, the IMD said, "Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some more parts of southwest and southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep area, southwest, eastcentral and westcentral Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of southeast Bay of Bengal and some parts of northeast Bay of Bengal during the next 2-3 days." India receives more than 70 pc of its annual rainfall during the .

As India faces a below-normal monsoon forecast for 2026, improved irrigation, resilient seeds and policy support have strengthened farm output, though regional risks and inflation concerns persist

India is likely to receive 80 cm of rainfall during the season - the long period average (1971-2020) of the seasonal rainfall over India is 87 cm

Private forecaster Skymet pegs 2026 monsoon at 94 per cent of LPA, with El Nino impact likely to drag rainfall below normal and key kharif months turning weak

Rain continued to batter Tamil Nadu causing a sharp rise in the water levels of the reservoirs and in Chennai, tree branches fell due to overnight downpour. The Mettur Dam, the largest reservoir in the state, reached its Full Reservoir Level (FRL). The widespread rain forced the administration in several districts to declare a holiday for schools and colleges on Wednesday. Apart from the intermittent spells of heavy rain in Chennai, widespread showers thrashed the coastal districts. Chief Minister M K Stalin, who chaired a meeting of officials to review the preparedness for the Northeast Monsoon in the wake of heavy rain forecast by the IMD, directed the officials to be vigilant and remain on the field for rescue and relief activities. Heavy rains were reported from Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai and also Tuticorin districts. The IMD has issued a red alert for parts of Tamil Nadu owing to the formation of a low ..

While monsoons and consumption deferrals following the GST rationalisation impacted demand in Sep'25, prices largely held firm, signalling resilience in the sector, Nuvama analysts said