India has received 20 per cent deficient rainfall in the first fortnight of this month, reducing the surplus rains until July 31 to normal rainfall in this season since it began from June 1. A closer look at the distribution show that the Central meteorological subdivision has received 59 per cent deficient rainfall in the first half of the month, whereas other regions have reported either normal or surplus precipitation.
For the first time since the season began, the east and northeast regions have received surplus rains during August 1-15, whereas in every other fortnight they had less than 100 per cent rainfall, sources said.
The country as a whole has received 107.2 mm rainfall during August 1-15, which is 19.6 per cent below its long period average (LPA) of 133.3 mm, taking the total seasonal rainfall to 100 per cent of LPA. However, only three meteorological subdivisions in 4 States (Bihar, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya), having a share of 9 per cent of the country’s total area, are deficient between June 1 and August 15.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data during first fortnight of this month, the East and North-East region received 8.1 per cent above normal rainfall at 176.8 mm, the Southern region 25.6 per cent surplus at 124.1 mm. But Central India subdivision comprising Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat has reported 59.2 per cent below normal at 66.6 mm and the North-West region 2 per cent less rainfall at 104.7 mm.
The data show that the country has received 581.5 mm rainfall between June 1 and August 15 against the LPA of 579.1 mm. During the same period, the East and North-East meteorological region received 763.8 mm rain, which is 16.6 per cent below normal of 916.1 mm, and the South Peninsula region received 481.2 mm, which is 3.6 per cent above normal of 464.3 mm.
But the North-West region received 14.9 per cent higher rainfall at 453.2 mm against 394.6 mm considered normal, and the Central region received 671 mm against the LPA of 655 mm, which is 2.4 per cent higher.
There are as many as 185 districts that are deficient out of the 728 districts from which rainfall data has been received by the IMD. The rainfall data of the north and northwest districts of Delhi, as well as two districts of Mizoram and five districts of Nagaland, have not been received.
The government is banking on overall increase in cropped area aided by a good rainfall for a bumper output. However, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have already reported crop damages in some districts due to heavy rains and floods and have sought Central assistance for the farmers.
The government has fixed a target of 168.88 million tonne (mt) of foodgrain production during Kharif 2025. Agriculture Ministry data show that overall Kharif sowing is 4 per cent higher at 995.63 lh as of August 8 from 957.15 lh year-ago.
Published on August 15, 2025