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SW Monsoon Deficit at 43%, El Niño Threatens Kharif Sowing & Agriculture

EnvironmentAgricultureCORE
Target:UPSC GS-IMPSCSSC GATeachingBankingPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
24 Jun 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:Monsoon deficit 43%Central India deficit 63%Northeast deficit 43%Northwest India surplus 5%Reservoir storage 30.4%Reservoir storage in past El Niño years 25.1%
Bodies:IMDNOAAAgriculture MinistryJal Shakti Ministry
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What This Article Covers

1.Nationwide monsoon deficit rises to 43% with stalled advance near Mumbai; El Niño and unfavourable IOD/MJO phases worsen outlook.

2.Central India faces 63% deficit, northeast 43% deficit, while northwest India has 5% surplus; reservoir storage at 30.4% is better than past El Niño years.

3.Agriculture Ministry prioritised 111 vulnerable districts; high heat and rain shortfall threaten cardamom and other plantation crops in Western Ghats.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

The southwest monsoon deficit has worsened from 35% to 43%, with stalled northward advance near Mumbai and a moderate-to-strong El Niño expected. This threatens kharif sowing for rice, pulses, and oilseeds, especially in central India (63% deficit) and the northeast (43% deficit). The article calls for a shift from rain-centric to water-centric agriculture and a unified authority for inter-state water management.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Monsoon Deficit (Nationwide)43% (up from 35%)
Central India Deficit63%
Northeast Deficit43%
Northwest India Surplus5%
Reservoir Storage30.4% of capacity
El Niño Intensity (Forecast)Moderate-to-strong
Vulnerable Districts Prioritised111 out of 315
Retail Food Inflation (April)4.2%

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Monsoon Deficit (Nationwide): 43% (up from 35%)
  • ›Central India Deficit: 63%
  • ›Target this Data: Nationwide monsoon deficit = 43% (up from 35%); Central India deficit = 63%; Northeast deficit = 43%.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: India Meteorological Department (IMD) & U.S. NOAA (for El Niño forecast).
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Agriculture Ministry's contingency plans for adjustable sowing windows & alternative seed varieties.

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which ministry is primarily responsible for issuing contingency plans for adjustable sowing windows and alternative seed varieties as mentioned in the article?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements:

1. The southwest monsoon deficit nationwide has increased from 35% to 43%.

2. The Indian Ocean Dipole is in a favourable phase, offering a buffer against El Niño.

3. Reservoir storage is at 30.4% of capacity, higher than the average during previous El Niño years.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the article, what is the rainfall deficit percentage in central India as of late June?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary reason the article suggests creating a new authority for inter-state water use and cropping changes?

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