August 11, 2026 3:33 PM

Andhra records 10.7 per cent economic growth in Q2 of 2025-26

Andhra Pradesh recorded 10.7 per cent economic growth in the second quarter of the 2025-26 fiscal despite the impact of El Niño, with agriculture registering the highest growth of 13.5 per cent, followed by industry at 10.6 per cent and services at 9.9 per cent, read an official press release. Planning Department officials presented the July 2026 monthly economic report to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at his camp office in Amaravati. The state's real Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) ...

August 5, 2026 5:47 PM

El Nino likely to persist till February 2027, monsoon impact depends on multiple climate factors: Jitendra Singh

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh on Wednesday informed the Lok Sabha that El Niño conditions, which developed in May 2026, are likely to persist until February 2027, according to the latest assessment by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS). However, he clarified that the phenomenon alone does not determine the performance of the Indian monsoon, as several other climate systems also infl...

July 8, 2026 4:24 PM

Centre steps up El Niño preparedness as monsoon improves; weekly reviews, contingency plans underway for Kharif season

Even as concerns persist over the possible impact of El Niño on the southwest monsoon, the Centre has intensified its preparedness measures with weekly monitoring, district-level contingency plans, seed reserves and enhanced farmer support initiatives to safeguard the ongoing Kharif season. The government's preparedness was reviewed at the highest level during a meeting chaired by Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr. P.K. Mishra on July 7, where senior officials from more than 15 mini...

July 3, 2026 8:19 PM

Amit Shah reviews below-normal rainfall situation, directs ministries to prepare for possible El Nino impact

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday reviewed the impact of below-normal monsoon rainfall in parts of the country amid concerns over El Nino and directed all concerned ministries to remain on alert, coordinate closely with state governments and ensure timely measures to minimise any adverse impact on agriculture and water resources. Chairing a high-level meeting along with Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Shah said the Centre is continuously monitoring th...

June 24, 2026 10:57 AM

Centre steps up Kharif preparedness amid El Niño threat; 315 vulnerable districts identified

With concerns mounting over the possible impact of El Niño and a delayed southwest monsoon, the Central Government has intensified preparations for the upcoming Kharif season, unveiling a comprehensive contingency strategy aimed at protecting farmers and ensuring food security. Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a high-level virtual review meeting on Tuesday with state agriculture ministers, district collectors, senior officials, scientists from the In...

June 16, 2026 5:33 PM

Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviews Kharif 2026 preparations, orders weekly El Nino monitoring

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, today chaired a high-level review meeting in New Delhi to assess overall preparations for the Kharif 2026 season and the broader agriculture scenario, with special focus on possible El Nino conditions. Chouhan directed that weekly review meetings be held to closely monitor the evolving situation. He stressed the need to identify districts likely to face low or uneven rainfall in advance and prepa...

June 3, 2026 10:07 AM

Centre on alert over possible El Nino impact; farmers’ interests will be protected: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday assured farmers that there is no need to panic over the possibility of El Nino conditions affecting the upcoming southwest monsoon, stating that the Centre has initiated comprehensive preparations to safeguard agricultural production and farmers' livelihoods. Chairing a high-level review meeting at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi, Chouhan assessed the country's preparedness for the 2026 southwest monsoon, including po...

May 12, 2026 11:58 AM

Global fire outbreaks hit record high as ‘unprecedented’ heat extremes loom, scientists say

Climate change has driven record-breaking outbreaks of fire in Africa, Asia and elsewhere this year, with conditions expected to get worse as the northern hemisphere's summer approaches and El Nino weather patterns kick in, scientists warned on Tuesday. Fires from January to April have already caused unprecedented levels of damage, burning more than 150 million hectares (370.66 million acres) of land, 20% more than the previous record, according to data compiled by World Weather At...

April 24, 2026 2:51 PM

El Nino set to return as early as May, impacting global weather patterns, UN weather agency says

The return of El Nino weather conditions are expected from as early as May this year, potentially affecting global temperatures and rainfall patterns, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said. El Nino is a periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, which typically lasts between nine to twelve months, according to the WMO. A clear shift has been observed in the Equatorial Pacific, with sea-surface temperatures rising rapidly, suggesting a high...

April 24, 2026 2:37 PM

How El Nino could impact the world’s weather in 2026/27

Global weather forecasters predict a strong El Nino weather phenomenon will build during the second half of 2026, threatening hotter and drier weather across much of Asia, while boosting rains in parts of North and South America. WHAT FORECASTERS PREDICT: Japan's weather bureau says there is a 70% chance for an El Nino to emerge during the northern hemisphere summer, while Indian weather authorities warn the South Asian nation's monsoon season could be below average for the first time in three...