Monsoon 2026 is reported as the fifth driest in 126 years, according to the latest assessments cited in NDTV coverage. The reporting indicates that a significant share of India—about 60% of districts—experiences a rainfall deficit during the season. The impact is highlighted in specific states, including Bihar, Kerala, and Telangana, which are described as bearing a larger share of the shortfall.
Alongside the rainfall data, the report references research from SBI Research, which assesses potential downstream effects on food prices. SBI Research indicates that despite the wide-area rainfall deficit, food prices are unlikely to spike, suggesting that short-term price pressures may be limited compared with previous episodes of drought or weak monsoon.
Overall, the coverage combines national drought indicators (ranking of monsoon rainfall across a long historical span) with geographically specific state impacts and an economic outlook focused on food inflation risks.
