June 2026 Among Driest On Record: Why Monsoon Rains Failed to Arrive
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Climate change & international agreements· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that June 2026 recorded the third driest monsoon rainfall in a century due to El Niño-like conditions.
Background
June 2026 recorded only 60% of normal rainfall, a sharp decline from 109% in June 2025. The IMD identified El Niño-like conditions and uneven low-pressure system development as primary drivers for the deficit in Northwest India.
Facts for Prelims
- FactJune 2026 rainfall was 60% of the normal average.
- S&TEl Niño is a climate pattern characterized by the warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
- BodyIndia Meteorological Department (IMD) is the national agency responsible for monitoring and forecasting monsoon patterns.
- PlaceNorthwest India states affected by the 2026 deficit include Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Delhi.
For Mains
Q. Analyze how El Niño-like conditions and erratic low-pressure systems impact India's monsoon patterns and suggest measures to mitigate agricultural risks from rainfall variability.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Climate vulnerability: High dependence of the agrarian economy on the Southwest Monsoon's spatial and temporal consistency.
- Meteorological complexity: Difficulty in predicting localized rainfall spells due to uneven low-pressure system development.
- Adaptive infrastructure: Need for robust water harvesting and irrigation systems to buffer against extreme rainfall deficits.
Keywords: El Niño · Monsoon variability · Climate resilience · Meteorological forecasting · Agrarian risk
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