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India's 2026 Monsoon Ends with 13% Deficit, Weakest in Over a Decade
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CNBC TV18•30-09-2026, 19:16
India's 2026 Monsoon Ends with 13% Deficit, Weakest in Over a Decade
- •India's four-month southwest monsoon season concluded with a 13% rainfall shortfall, marking the weakest seasonal precipitation in over a decade and the fourth lowest since 2001.
- •Cumulative rainfall settled at approximately 87% of the long-period average, heavily influenced by the El Niño climate pattern.
- •282 districts, nearly 38% of India's geographic area, experienced deficient rainfall, with southern peninsular India seeing a 28% deficit and East and Northeast India a 25% deficit.
- •The monsoon had an exceptionally weak start in June, delaying kharif sowing, despite a recovery in July and a late surge in the final week.
- •The final 87% outcome aligned with the India Meteorological Department's advance assessments, which had downgraded forecasts due to El Niño risks.
Key Questions Answered
India's four-month southwest monsoon season ended on Wednesday with an overall rainfall shortfall of roughly 13%, making it the country's weakest seasonal precipitation in over a decade and the fourth lowest since 2001.
Southern peninsular India experienced the steepest regional deficit at 28% below normal, while East and Northeast India trailed baseline levels by 25%.
The weak monsoon showing was heavily influenced by the emergence of the El Niño climate pattern, which left 282 districts with deficient rainfall.
