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The government of India's weather agency, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), has officially predicted below-normal monsoon rains for India for the 2026 season due to El Niño conditions. The weather phenomenon that has already ballooned in intensity will remain intact till the next month, and the coming September will have the least rain in the last three years, said IMD Director General Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.

The monsoon outlook has been downgraded to 90% of the Long Period Average (LPA) by IMD, highlighting its high chances of subnormal rainfall. The development is worrying for kharif crops, water reservoirs, and rural livelihoods, with almost 60% of India's farmland positioned at the mercy of the monsoon rains.

Nearly all the regions of central, northwest, and south peninsular India are likely to get the heaviest impact and may have drought-like conditions, as well as some areas in the northeastern region, which may receive near-normal rainfall. Climate scientists recommend contingency planning such as strengthening management of water resources and alternative farming strategies to lessen the impacts of the climatic phenomenon. This El-Nino event again represents the susceptibility of Indian agriculture with respect to global temps.