El Nino to reappear? India braces for Met monsoon forecast

The southwest monsoon provides a little more than 70% of the country's annual precipitation

This week, many eyes would be on the large red building on Lodhi Road here that houses the headquarters of India Meteorological Department (IMD).

On schedule is its first forecast on the 2017 southwest monsoon, an annual event that sets the tone not only for agricultural production but also the manner in which the economy, stock markets, inflation and interest rates would move in the year.

The impact of a failed monsoon is not as severe as was the case in the past. Even so, the June-to-September rains are vital for farming. Less than half of arable land in the