IMD forecasts below-average ‌monsoon rains for 2026 amid El Nino concerns

India is likely to see below-average monsoon rains in 2026, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday (April 13, 2026), raising concerns over farm output and growth in the country as it released its long-range forecast for the southwest monsoon season, which spans from June to September.

“Monsoon rainfall from June to September will be ‘below normal’ and is likely to be 92% of the Long Period Average,” Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) Secretary M. Ravichandran said at a press briefing on Monday (April 13, 2026).

Published - April 13, 2026 05:44 pm IST