El Niño Conditions Result in 40% Rainfall Shortfall in June
India ended the month of June 2026 with a cumulative southwest monsoon rainfall deficit of approximately 40% below the long-term average (LPA), marking one of the weakest starts to the season in a decade. The weak start is attributed to developing El Niño conditions in the Pacific, which have delayed the monsoon’s progress.
Delays in Kharif Sowing Raise Food Inflation Concerns for RBI
The sluggish rainfall has delayed the planting of summer-sown crops, including rice, soybeans, corn, and cotton. Central India and the Southern Peninsula are facing dry conditions and low reservoir levels. Economists warn that a prolonged deficit could pressure food inflation, presenting a key policy challenge for the Reserve Bank of India.
