The rainfall deficit has significantly impacted agriculture, with kharif crop sowing areas 21% lower than the same period last year by the end of June. Crops such as urad, moong, soybean, and cotton have been particularly affected, potentially leading to inflationary pressures on food prices. Reservoir levels are also below average, with storage in 178 monitored reservoirs at 129.87 billion cubic metres as of 3 September, compared to 159.18 bcm last year. This could exacerbate water availability issues in the coming months, especially in regions already facing prolonged dry spells.