CHANGING RAINFALL PATTERNS IN INDIA

Focus : Rainfall Patterns in India 

Key Highlights:

  • Tehsil-Level Insights:
  • Analysis reveals a 55% increase and a 1% decrease in rainfall across India’s tehsils.
  • Concerns arise as 68% of tehsils experiencing reduced rainfall face critical impacts during the southwest monsoon, crucial for kharif crop sowing.
  • District-Level Extremes and Trends:
  • District-level examination exposes 30% with deficient rainfall and 38% with excessive rainfall, impacting regions like New Delhi, Bengaluru, and others.
  • Monsoon Year Variability:
  • India had 29 “normal,” eight “above-normal,” and three “below-normal” monsoon years from 1982 to 2022.
  • Localized Extremes and Heavy Rainfall:
  • CEEW’s study notes a 64% increase in heavy rainfall days, particularly in affluent States like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
  • Excess rainfall is attributed to short-duration, heavy events, impacting historically dry regions.
  • Northeast Monsoon and Winter Trends:
  • Northeast monsoon sees a 10% increase in rainfall in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
  • Maharashtra, Goa, Odisha, and West Bengal report rising winter rainfall, possibly linked to cyclonic activity.
About Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) :

·    The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) is a non-profit Think Tank and policy institution.

·    Based in New Delhi, India, CEEW was established in 2010.

·    Founded with a mission to identify integrated solutions for achieving balanced growth and development in India.

·    CEEW aims to provide independent research-based insights to policymakers, contributing to the building of a sustainable India.