IMD also expects below-normal rainfall nationally in September
India received 13.8 per cent less rainfall than normal during the June-August period of the 2026 monsoon season, according to the India Meteorological Department. Punjab is among the states that recorded deficient rainfall. The IMD has also forecast that rainfall across the country during September is likely to remain below normal. For Punjab, reduced monsoon rainfall has wider implications because agriculture already relies heavily on groundwater and irrigation networks. A weaker monsoon can increase demand for tube-well irrigation and potentially put additional pressure on aquifers, particularly during a season when paddy occupies a large share of cultivated land.
