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El Nino
El Nino
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.
Households in India, Asia-Pacific regions vulnerable to El Nino shocks: S&P
S&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
 "El Nino")
RBI policy & market outlook: Calm is conditional, say analysts
For 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 IST "El Nino")
Water disputes back in spotlight amid El Niño and political shifts
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
Updated On : 02 Aug 2026 | 10:26 PM IST "El Nino")
Can India meet rising power demand amid El Nino? Govt explains
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
Updated On : 24 Jul 2026 | 3:14 PM IST "El Nino")
Latest Updates on El Nino
Economic activity stable, but El Niño clouds food inflation: FinMin
Finance ministry says domestic demand remains resilient, but an intensifying El Nino and weather-related risks warrant caution on food inflation and agricultural output
 "Economic activity stable, but El Niño clouds food inflation: FinMin")
Climate change may be making El Nino events stronger, suggests study
A new study suggests that El Ninos - the natural climatic chaos agent that pops up periodically and spikes global temperatures - are getting stronger because of human-caused climate change. El Ninos are more than 36% stronger than they were before the industrial age began in the mid 1800s, with a 16% jump in just the last 40 years showing that the increase is accelerating, according to a study in Thursday's journal Science. The findings come as a strong El Nino that formed a couple months ago is forecast to be the biggest on record in coming months. El Ninos, which are a temporary warming of parts of the equatorial Pacific, warp weather worldwide and increase extreme events, including heat waves, floods in some places and droughts in others. They can cost trillions in damage. "That's important because strong El Ninos have much stronger impacts on climate hazards and extremes worldwide. When we set out to answer the question of why this might be happening, we set our data up against
 "Climate change may be making El Nino events stronger, suggests study")
2026 likely the hottest year on record driven by El-Nino, say experts
El Nino brings powerful consequences for the globe, drying out some regions, like Western and Southern Africa, Australia and India, while potentially raising rainfall in others, such as southern US
 "2026 likely the hottest year on record driven by El-Nino, say experts")
El Niño drives India's July power demand to a record high: Crisil report
India'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
 "El Niño drives India's July power demand to a record high: Crisil report")
El Niño, below-normal rainfall could hit NBFCs' rural loan books
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 Niño, below-normal rainfall could hit NBFCs' rural loan books")
StatsGuru: El Nino's uneven blow for east and Northeast this season
El Nino could intensify through October, threatening India's monsoon and farm sector, while a positive Indian Ocean Dipole may partly offset its impact
Unemployment among rural women at one-year high in June: Experts
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
 "Unemployment among rural women at one-year high in June: Experts")
India says coal power plants have adequate stocks despite rising demand
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
 "India says coal power plants have adequate stocks despite rising demand")
El Nino-driven monsoon swings threaten crops, power grid in India
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
 "El Nino-driven monsoon swings threaten crops, power grid in India")
Rain check for RBI: Food inflation, El Niño risks make rate cuts unlikely
Keeping in mind the factors on crop prospects, it stands to reason that rate cuts are out, and an unchanged position can be expected.
 "Rain check for RBI: Food inflation, El Niño risks make rate cuts unlikely")
Monsoon picks up, but market bulls aren't out of the woods yet; here's why
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.
 "Monsoon picks up, but market bulls aren't out of the woods yet; here's why")
Weak monsoon raises rural credit risks; cash flow stress likely: ICRA
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.
 "Weak monsoon raises rural credit risks; cash flow stress likely: ICRA")
El Niño years: Tractor sales lag; 2-wheelers & FMCG hold up, finds study
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.
 "El Niño years: Tractor sales lag; 2-wheelers & FMCG hold up, finds study")
El Niño, weak monsoon cloud tractor, two-wheeler sales; analysts weigh risk
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.
El Niño impact keeps India's hydropower generation weak through July
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
 "El Niño impact keeps India's hydropower generation weak through July")
From crops to consumers: How a weak monsoon affects India's economy
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
 "From crops to consumers: How a weak monsoon affects India's economy")