Monsoon rains in India 7% below average in past week

However, rains have covered almost the entire country

Monsoon rains in India were 7% below average in the week ending June 22, the weather office said on Thursday, narrowing the deficit since the season started on June 8.

The June-September monsoon rains have remained 18%  low so far, but have covered almost the entire country, and helped quicken the planting process of summer crops such as paddy rice, soybeans, cotton and pulses