El Nino Puts India On Track For Its Driest Monsoon In 17 Years

Friday, 18 September 2026Newsdesk

Adequate monsoon rains are crucial for the hundreds of millions of Indian farmers who depend on the seasonal precipitation to irrigate fields in the country, which is among the world's biggest producers of rice, sugar and cotton

New Delhi 18 September 2026

As per news report of NDTV,India is on course for its driest monsoon in 17 years as a strengthening El Nino curbs rainfall, threatening crop yields and raising food-price risks.Cumulative rainfall during the June to September monsoon season is 15% below the long-term average so far, according to the India Meteorological Department. If the deficit persists, it would be the weakest monsoon since 2009, when precipitation was 18% below normal. The weather office had forecast a 10% shortfall for this season back in May.

Source - NDTV