July Sees 11% Surplus Rainfall in First Half
16-Jul-2025 11:07 AM
New Delhi. Due to improved progress of the southwest monsoon, several parts of the country received very good rainfall in recent days, which has significantly helped farmers increase the sowing area of Kharif crops.
According to the latest data from the Meteorological Department, from July 1 to 15, 2025, the country received 11.3 percent more rainfall than the long period average (LPA) of 128.9 mm. From June 1 to July 15, rainfall was 10 percent above the normal average. However, the distribution of rainfall has been uneven, with some areas experiencing excess and others facing a deficit.
Rainfall deficiency was recorded in nine seasonal subdivisions spread across eight states and union territories, which together account for about 20 percent of the country’s total agricultural area.
During July 1 to 15, the eastern and northeastern regions received 30 percent below-average rainfall, while the southern region was 22.6 percent below average.
In contrast, central India recorded 44.5 percent surplus rainfall, and northwestern states received 26.3 percent more than normal. Bihar, which was dry earlier, is now receiving rain.
Overall, from June 1 to July 15, 2025, total rainfall at the national level was 323.5 mm, which is 10 percent more than the normal of 294.2 mm.
The eastern and northeastern region received 421.1 mm of rainfall during this period, which is 22 percent less than the LPA of 540.2 mm. In South India, rainfall stood at 229.7 mm, or 10 percent below the LPA of 255.3 mm.
Meanwhile, the northwestern region received 225.4 mm of rainfall, which is 33.6 percent above the LPA of 168.7 mm. Central India recorded 421.7 mm of rainfall, 33.9 percent higher than its normal of 315 mm.
Despite the national surplus, 258 of the 729 districts from which weather data is collected reported below-normal rainfall. This does not include data from some northeastern districts. Interestingly, wide variations in rainfall have been observed within individual states.
In Uttar Pradesh, for example, Etah received 146 percent surplus rain, Hamirpur 129 percent, and Agra 98 percent, while Deoria faced a 96 percent deficit and Kushinagar 81 percent less rainfall. Similar contrasts are evident in other major agricultural states as well.