Monsoon deficit hits 43% in 2026, forcing urgent water‑policy action for Kharif crops.
The monsoon supplies most of India's farm water, so a deficit directly hits food production and prices. El Niño, a warm Pacific event, weakens trade winds and reduces rainfall, making water scarcity a governance challenge that links agriculture, economy and climate policy.
GS‑3 question could ask how monsoon deficits and El Niño affect food security and what water‑policy measures can mitigate the impact. Candidates should discuss short‑term relief and long‑term water‑management reforms.
The nationwide Southwest monsoon deficit has risen from 35% to 43%. The monsoon trough stalled near Mumbai and both NOAA and the IMD project a moderate‑to‑strong El Niño this year. The phenomenon weakens trade winds, hampers vertical air movement, and coincides with an unfavourable Madden‑Julian Oscillation and a neutral Indian Ocean Dipole.
Monsoon deficit hits 43% in 2026, forcing urgent water‑policy action for Kharif crops.
The monsoon supplies most of India's farm water, so a deficit directly hits food production and prices. El Niño, a warm Pacific event, weakens trade winds and reduces rainfall, making water scarcity a governance challenge that links agriculture, economy and climate policy.
GS‑3 question could ask how monsoon deficits and El Niño affect food security and what water‑policy measures can mitigate the impact. Candidates should discuss short‑term relief and long‑term water‑management reforms.
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