El Niño Threatens India's Monsoon, Raising Drought Concerns
El Niño Threatens India's Monsoon, Raising Drought Concerns
India · Published Sep 21, 2026
India is experiencing significant disruptions to its monsoon season due to the ongoing El Niño phenomenon.
This climate event, characterised by warming of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, has weakened the atmospheric conditions necessary for a robust monsoon.

Impact & Risks

The reduced monsoon rainfall is expected to severely impact crop yields, particularly for water-intensive crops like rice and sugarcane. This could lead to increased food prices and inflation, affecting millions of households across India. Farmers in rain-fed regions are especially vulnerable, as they rely heavily on monsoon rains for irrigation. The water scarcity may also strain reservoirs and groundwater resources, potentially leading to drinking water shortages in some areas.

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