India’s Plentiful Monsoon Rains to Aid Crops and Economy (1)

India expects an above-normal monsoon this year, which could help boost agricultural output and economic growth as US tariffs throw global trade into turmoil.

Total rainfall during the June-September window is forecast to be 105% of the long-term average, according to M. Ravichandran, secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The forecast has a 5% margin of error.

The summer monsoon is responsible for the bulk of India’s total annual rainfall, and is crucial for replenishing aquifers and supporting farming activity. It occurs when wind currents shift to blow from the southwest, bringing humid air that warms over land, ...