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El Nino is a recurring climate pattern marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. The phenomenon influences weather conditions worldwide and can affect rainfall, temperatures, and agricultural output. In India, El Nino is closely watched for its impact on the monsoon, crop production, inflation, and economic activity. Get the latest news, updates, analysis, and expert insights on El Nino at Business Standard.
A weak monsoon and El Nino could hurt rural incomes and repayments, prompting major NBFCs to tighten portfolio monitoring and underwriting in vulnerable segments
El Nino could intensify through October, threatening India's monsoon and farm sector, while a positive Indian Ocean Dipole may partly offset its impact
Updated On : 09 Aug 2026 | 10:38 PM ISTS&P said the effects of the El Nino period starting in 2026 will reach Asia-Pacific mainly through weaker rainfall and climate disruption, and the macroeconomic impact is likely to be manageable
Updated On : 09 Aug 2026 | 11:10 AM ISTFor Indian markets, the bigger issue over the next few months, analysts said, isn't the repo rate, but how much more geopolitical pressure the rupee can take before the central bank has to step in.
Updated On : 05 Aug 2026 | 1:44 PM ISTIndia's power demand is expected to rise 6.5-7.5 per cent this fiscal to 1,825-1,835 BU, driven by an expected increase in cooling demand due to higher temperatures and lower rainfall
Change of guard in some states and evolving El Niño dynamics are triggering fresh actions on raging water-sharing disputes in several states, Hemant Kumar Rout and Shine Jacob report
As El Nino raises concerns over rising electricity demand, the Centre says India has adequate power, sufficient coal stocks and a roadmap to keep electricity supplies stable
Weak monsoon and delayed kharif sowing may have pushed rural women's unemployment to a one-year high in June despite higher labour force participation
India's peak power demand surged last week to nearly 270.1 gigawatts (GW), driven by higher cooling demand as an El Nino pattern contributed to weaker rainfall
This year's monsoon opened with India's fifth-driest June on record and rainfall almost 40% below normal levels, followed by a sudden deluge early this month
Keeping in mind the factors on crop prospects, it stands to reason that rate cuts are out, and an unchanged position can be expected.
The recent acceleration in rainfall has provided a sentiment lift, but from a fundamental standpoint, it has only partially mitigated D-Street's underlying anxieties.
AM Karthik of ICRA Ltd said that NBFCs slow down disbursements, tighten their credit norms and prioritise collections and loan quality over loan growth when macroeconomic headwinds intensify.
Tractor sales, the JM Financial study said, were most sensitive to El Nino conditions, recording weaker sales growth during the La Niña period, which is associated with excess rainfall.
Analysts said the impact of a weak monsoon would depend more on the distribution of rainfall across key agricultural regions rather than the overall national rainfall figure.
Weak monsoon rains linked to El Niño have lowered reservoir levels, curbing hydropower generation and increasing India's reliance on coal to meet rising electricity demand
A poor monsoon can trigger a chain reaction across the economy, from lower farm output and higher food prices to weaker demand and changes in RBI policy
Skipping the ideal and pushing doable urban reforms immediately is key to reviving India's sputtering city growth engines
India forecasts coal's share in nation's generation mix will fall to 64% by 2027 and 50% over next decade, but it remains at more than 70% even after drop in thermal power production last year
Europe is witnessing one of the worst heatwaves in its recorded history. The ongoing heatwave has caused more than 1,300 excess deaths since June 21, according to the World Health Organization