The information on the monsoon is not encouraging. The monsoon rains are critical for India because they account for about 70 per cent of annual rainfall. A significant deficit can not only affect kharif production but also rabi crops. According to reports, India is expected to receive the lowest rain in eight years. The ongoing dry spell, which has led to the lowest precipitation on record in August, is likely to continue. The El Nino condition is reported to be gaining strength and is projected to continue till December. The rainfall, as a result, could be significantly impacted in the