India's 13% rain deficit makes monsoon a drought year
India's summer monsoon season concluded with a 13% rainfall deficit, officially classifying it as a drought year. While the winter monsoon is expected to bring normal rainfall to parts of southern India, most of the country faces below-normal precipitation for the remainder of the year.
Why it matters
The drought conditions pose significant risks to India's agricultural output and water security, impacting the broader economy.
NEW DELHI: The rainy season in India technically ended on Wednesday, with the summer (southwest) monsoon rainfall during June-Sept period recording a deficit of nearly 13% - a level of shortfall which is considered a drought. Significantly, this is the fourth lowest seasonal rainfall since 2001 and the 13th lowest since 1901.The situation is likely to be better during winter when northeast monsoon hits south Peninsular India between Oct 15 and Oct 21, with the IMD predicting 'normal' rainfall over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema region, Kerala and south interior Karnataka during Oct-Dec period.
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