While the eastern arm of the monsoon has made significant progress, reaching Sikkim and covering the northeastern states well before time, the western arm is facing hurdles. Gujarat, which typically starts receiving monsoon rains in the southern districts by June 15th, has seen a hesitant start this year. We expect no significant progress in monsoon activity over Gujarat for the next week. In contrast, the eastern arm of the monsoon surged on May 31st, reaching Sikkim and blanketing the northeastern states. The delayed monsoon arrival can lead to several concerns, including delayed sowing of crops, potential water scarcity later in the season, and an impact on agricultural incomes.

Source: Mint June 15, 2024 13:00 UTC