The June-September monsoon season, when India receives 80% of its annual rainfall, is crucial to the sowing season for summer crops. Of the total food production in the country, 44% comes from rain-fed areas that also support about 40% of the country’s population. The rain should also bring relief from heat waves and a hotter than normal summer. Usually, the south-west monsoon is expected over the Andaman Sea around 20 May, give or take a week. The monsoon may have arrived a week later than its scheduled 1 June arrival date, but it’s expected to be a good one.

Source: Mint June 10, 2016 13:30 UTC