India Records Fifth Driest December in 124 Years, Raising Concerns
India experienced its fifth driest December in 124 years, with rainfall 79% below normal.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema
Here's the key point: India just experienced its fifth driest December in 124 years, with rainfall plummeting to 79% below the normal average. This isn't just a statistic; it's a significant climate anomaly. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the country received only 3.3 mm of rainfall against the normal 15.9 mm.
This dry spell is particularly concerning for the Rabi crop season, which heavily relies on winter rainfall for irrigation. States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, crucial for agriculture, saw significant deficits. This trend, exacerbated by a strong El Niño effect, points to the increasing unpredictability of weather patterns due to climate change, impacting agricultural output and water security.
Remember, such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, making climate resilience a critical UPSC topic.
Key Facts
December 2023 was the fifth driest in 124 years
Rainfall was 79% below normal
India received 3.3 mm of rainfall against normal 15.9 mm
Strong El Niño conditions contributed to the dry spell
Northwest India saw 83% deficit, Central India 79%, East & Northeast India 78%
South Peninsula recorded 60% deficit
UPSC Exam Angles
Climatology and Meteorology: Understanding El Niño, La Niña, Western Disturbances, and their impact on Indian weather patterns.
Agriculture: Implications of rainfall variability on Rabi crops, food security, farmer livelihoods, and irrigation strategies.
Environment and Ecology: Climate change impacts, extreme weather events, water security challenges, and strategies for climate resilience and adaptation.
Government Policies: Role of IMD, disaster management, and agricultural support policies in response to climate anomalies.
Visual Insights
India's December 2025 Rainfall Deficit: Key Figures
This dashboard highlights the critical statistics of India's unusually dry December in 2025, emphasizing the severity of the rainfall deficit and its implications.
- Rainfall Deficit (Dec 2025)
- 79% Below Normal
- Actual Rainfall (Dec 2025)
- 3.3 mm
- Normal Rainfall (Dec)
- 15.9 mm
- Historical Ranking
- 5th Driest December
India experienced its fifth driest December in 124 years, a significant climate anomaly impacting winter crops and water resources.
Against a normal average of 15.9 mm, this low figure underscores the severity of the dry spell.
The benchmark against which the 2025 deficit is measured, highlighting the deviation from expected patterns.
This places the 2025 event among the most extreme dry Decembers in over a century, indicating increasing frequency of anomalies.
Rabi Crop Producing States Affected by December 2025 Rainfall Deficit
This map highlights key agricultural states, particularly major Rabi crop producers, that experienced significant rainfall deficits in December 2025, indicating potential impacts on food security and farmer livelihoods.
Loading interactive map...
More Information
Background
India's agricultural calendar is heavily reliant on seasonal rainfall patterns. While the Southwest Monsoon (June-September) is the primary source of rainfall, winter rainfall (October-December) is crucial for the Rabi crop season.
This winter rainfall is predominantly influenced by Western Disturbances originating from the Mediterranean region and, to a lesser extent, by the Northeast Monsoon in peninsular India. Historical data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) provides a long-term perspective on these patterns, highlighting both natural variability and emerging trends due to climate change.
Latest Developments
India recently recorded its fifth driest December in 124 years, with a significant rainfall deficit of 79% below the normal average. This extreme anomaly, reported by the IMD, saw the country receive only 3.3 mm of rainfall against a normal of 15.9 mm. This dry spell is particularly alarming for the ongoing Rabi crop season, which depends heavily on winter precipitation for irrigation.
Key agricultural states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand experienced substantial deficits. The phenomenon is largely attributed to a strong El Niño effect, which typically suppresses winter rainfall in India, and points towards increasing unpredictability of weather patterns due to global climate change.
Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding winter rainfall in India: 1. The recent dry December, recorded as the fifth driest in 124 years, significantly impacts the Kharif crop season. 2. Western Disturbances are extra-tropical storm systems originating in the Mediterranean region that bring non-monsoonal precipitation to Northwest India during winter. 3. A strong El Niño event is generally associated with suppressed winter rainfall over many parts of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: B
Statement 1 is incorrect. The dry December primarily impacts the Rabi crop season, not Kharif, as Rabi crops are sown in winter and harvested in spring. Kharif crops rely on the Southwest Monsoon. Statement 2 is correct. Western Disturbances are crucial for winter rainfall in Northwest India. Statement 3 is correct. El Niño typically leads to warmer sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, which can disrupt global weather patterns, often resulting in reduced winter rainfall over India.
2. With reference to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon, consider the following statements: 1. El Niño refers to the warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. 2. La Niña is typically associated with stronger monsoon rainfall and cooler winters in India. 3. The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) can sometimes counteract the adverse effects of El Niño on the Indian monsoon. How many of the statements given above are correct?
- A.Only one
- B.Only two
- C.All three
- D.None
Show Answer
Answer: C
Statement 1 is correct. El Niño is characterized by the warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. Statement 2 is correct. La Niña, the cooling phase of ENSO, is generally associated with above-average monsoon rainfall and colder winters in India. Statement 3 is correct. The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), particularly a positive IOD, can bring warmer waters to the western Indian Ocean, potentially mitigating the negative impact of El Niño on the Indian monsoon by enhancing rainfall over the subcontinent.
3. Which of the following statements correctly describes the primary source of winter rainfall for the major Rabi crop-growing regions of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand?
- A.Retreating Southwest Monsoon
- B.Northeast Monsoon
- C.Western Disturbances
- D.Convectional rainfall
Show Answer
Answer: C
The primary source of winter rainfall for the northern plains of India, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, which are major Rabi crop-growing regions, is Western Disturbances. These extra-tropical storms bring precipitation from the west. The retreating Southwest Monsoon primarily affects parts of South India during October-November. The Northeast Monsoon mainly impacts the southeastern coast of India (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh). Convectional rainfall is more common during pre-monsoon or monsoon periods, often localized.
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