India will raise import duty on sugar to 40 percent from 15 percent, as the government tries to revive business at sugar mills that owe farmers around $1.84 billion. Indian sugar futures rose and may edge higher in coming days due to the local demand and increase in import duty on sugar, according to the traders.
Indian soybean and soyoil futures rose due to weak monsoon rains that raised concerns about sowing operations in key producing states Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Soybean futures are expected to trade higher as delayed monsoon season could aid prices at the lower levels, according to the commodity analysts.
According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, torrential rain occurred in many parts of West Bengal, Northeastern states and Odisha in the last 24 hours. Monsoon performance will relatively better in these states as more heavy rain is likely throughout this week.
Our list of top ten rainiest cities therefore includes places mostly from these states only. The table clearly shows West Bengal remained the wettest state on Monday:
| Cities | State | Rainfall (in millimetres) |
| Basirhat (Kolkata) | West Bengal | 120 |
| Alipore (Kolkata) | West Bengal | 99 |
| Mysore | Karnataka | 84 |
| Gorakhpur | Uttar Pradesh | 67 |
| Puri | Odisha | 65 |
| Midnapore | West Bengal | 61.4 |
| Diamond Harbour | West Bengal | 59 |
| Jalpaiguri | West Bengal | 55 |
| Cherrapunji | Meghalaya | 45 |
| Sriniketan | West Bengal | 44 |
The system in the Bay of Bengal has shifted inland and at present is centered around Gangetic West Bengal and adjoining areas as a low pressure area. This weather system has been erratic as it has been showing signs of intensification at times and then again disorganising. There has been no consistency in terms of cloud formation as well, with a cluster of thick clouds quickly scattering.
This weather system has been lingering on for quite some time, bringing good Monsoon rain over East and Northeast India. Heavy to very heavy rain occurred in Sub Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Meghalaya and other Northeastern states in the last three to four days, and good Monsoon showers is expected to continue for the entire week.
Northeast India, Sikkim and Sub Himalayan West Bengal have been observing heavy Monsoon rain since Friday. Malda and Pasighat received torrential rain on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, Bagdogra in West Bengal recorded the highest rainfall in the country of 253 mm, whereas Panagarh in northern Bengal recorded 121 mm of rain. Cherrapunji also received a whopping 174 mm and Darjeeling recorded 104 mm of rain. With Brahmaputra River crossing the danger level, flood-like situation occurred in several parts of Assam.
The rain belt is now shifting towards the Gangetic plains, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand.
Rain in West Bengal- Basirhat in Kolkata received 120 mm of rain and Alipore 99 mm, Midnapore 61.4 mm, Diamond Harbour 59 mm, Jalpaiguri 55 mm, Sriniketan 44 mm, Malda 37 mm, Darjeeling 23 mm and Coochbehar 18 mm.
Odisha has also been receiving good rain since the last 24 hours with Bhubaneswar and Angul recording 53 mm and 39 mm of rain respectively. However, rain is likely to reduce in the state in another 24 hours.
According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the above mentioned states, besides Odisha, would witness wet weather during the entire week. However, torrential rain is likely to occur during the next 48 hours.
The month of June has been one of the driest in the country in years but Monsoon performance has been the best in Sub Himalayan West Bengal and Northeastern states, particularly Assam and Meghalaya.
A massive rain deficit has been observed across the country in June. South India, which usually experiences very good Monsoon rain, has also been at the receiving end. Mangalore in Karnataka is one such place where rainfall deficit has been very high this time.
The average monthly rainfall in Mangalore in the month of June is 1045 mm but the city received only 610 mm of rain, the highest in last one decade. The lowest amount of rain that the city had received earlier in the month of June was 629 mm, observed in drought year of 2009.
There has also been only 20 rainy days in June - there is rain almost everyday during normal Monsoon – with light to moderate spells of rain. Heavy spells have been very few which added up to the deficit.
The above reasons clearly indicate how weak Monsoon in Mangalore has been so far. The beginning of July will start on a weaker note in terms of rain in the city, but Monsoon showers are likely to pick up from the second week and become moderate in intensity.
With Monsoon lurking around in Delhi and North India, Delhi is likely to receive rain in the first half of this week, particularly on Wednesday.
The week will commence with rain across the northwest plains, except for Rajasthan, and the hills of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Rain will however, reduce by the end of the week but cloud cover may still persist. According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, this could be a precursor to the arrival of Monsoon in Delhi and North India.
In view of rain the mercury will come down marginally but rise once again and maximum could cross mid-thirties. While places along the foothills in Punjab will be cooler with maximums settling around 35⁰C, Delhi may observe day temperatures settling between 36⁰C and 38⁰C.
The Safdarjung Observatory recorded a maximum of around 37.2⁰C in last 24 hours. With a cloud cover and humidity rising to touch even 90%, Delhi/NCR could receive some rain tonight.
Temperatures have come down, cloud cover persists throughout the day, rain occurs during late night and weather activity now travels from the foothills of North India. Thus, on a concluding note we can say that the conditions required for Monsoon has been almost met but the most important prerequisite i.e. good rain is missing.
Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and western parts of Uttar Pradesh may continue to receive rain during next 48 hours. Rain in Delhi and Punjab is likely to pick up from 5th July, which is when Skymet expects Monsoon to make an entry.
According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, rain in Bangalore has been more than normal in June, while the entire country is witnessing deficit.
So far, 2012 Monsoon has been the worst for Karnataka, particularly for the capital city Bangalore. In 2012, the total rainfall in the month of June in Bangalore was mere 7 mm which was the lowest in a decade. A strong El Nino was threatening to affect the Monsoon rain in Bangalore too this June, especially when the city witnessed a dry spell from the 14th to 28th June.
According to the Regional Meteorological Observatory of Bangalore, the city was experiencing a deficit of 38% till the middle of June. But as far the distribution is concerned, several districts have received more rainfall than the average.
Bangalore Urban, Ramanagaram and Bellary in Karnataka have witnessed 20 per cent more rainfall than the average during June. The three-day intermittent rainfall of 26.4 mm on Saturday, 30 mm on Sunday and 22.7 mm on Monday has contributed to an excess.
The normal average rainfall in Bangalore in June is 89 mm and the city recorded 142 mm of rain, with 67 mm of heavy spell in a single day on 6th June.
As for this week, light to moderate rain will continue to make the weather in Bangalore very pleasant. Intensity of Monsoon showers may increase from 6th July across Karnataka.
The month of July is generally welcomed by Monsoon air sweeping across the country. Not very surprisingly, this year a large part of the country is still to come under the purview of Southwest Monsoon.
The Northern Limit of Monsoon (NLM) continues to pass through Veraval, Surat, Nashik, Wasim, Damoh and Sultanpur. Entire North India including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and western parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are still left out.
Monsoon rain behaved very uncannily with good rain observed only over Northeast India and West Bengal leaving behind a whopping national cumulative deficit of 43%. Northwest and Central India have contributed to maximum deficit of 55% and 61%, respectively.
With good rain, the weather in East and Northeast India is quite cool and comfortable while temperatures are still touching 40⁰C in Agra (41⁰C), Satna (40⁰C), Gwalior (41⁰C), Kota (41.6⁰C),
The west coast of peninsular India is generally the wettest part of the country, where it rains cats and dogs in the month of June. However, rain has been subdued here and it’s going to continue on a milder note for the next 10 days. But with rain deficit mounting to 31% in Kerala and 43% in coastal parts of Karnataka, some relief is foreseen as these regions should receive some good showers in the coming days.
According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the rain deficiency can be seen mounting as we travel from South to North India and then to Gujarat and Rajasthan. Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar may continue to get rain during 24 hours. Going by the present scenario, covering the cumulative average rain of 29 cm for the month of July seems to be a daunting task, believes AVM (Retd) G.P Sharma.
According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the weather in India is expected to be rainy in many parts but Monsoon showers may still not be in its full strength. Here’s a look at the weather forecast for India for the entire week:
North India: Weather in North India is expected to be less hot this week as Monsoon is lurking around Delhi and northern plains. The week will start with some rain in the plains as well as in the hills of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Weathermen at Skymet say this will be a precursor to the arrival of Monsoon in Delhi and adjoining states. Monsoon is expected to hit the region by 5th July though, it may still not give very good Monsoon showers. Rain will start to reduce by the end of the week however, cloud cover may still persist, which will help in keeping the maximums and minimums marginally below normal. While places along the foothills in Punjab will be cooler with maximums settling in the mid-thirties, Delhi may observe day temperatures settling between 37⁰C and 39⁰C.
East and Northeast India: The month of June has been one of the driest in the country in years but Monsoon rains have been the most frequent in East and Northeast India so far. Heavy to very heavy rain occurred in Sub Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Meghalaya and other Northeastern states in the last three to four days, and good Monsoon showers is expected to continue for the entire week. Other than these states, Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand will also be the center of rain activity for the first three to four days of the week. Extensive rain in this part of India is attributed to a cyclonic circulation which formed in the Bay of Bengal last week and then moved into Odisha and West Bengal. A low pressure in Bangladesh is also said to be the reason for good rains in entire West Bengal.
Central India: Central India, which otherwise receives good rainfall during the Monsoon season has been the most unlucky this time. Rains have been little in the entire month of June. However, this week may bring some rainy changes to some states, such as Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, east Madhya Pradesh and some cities of Telangana. West Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and south Rajasthan will still be dry. People here will be eager for rains but the moody Monsoon will not cover these states this week too. The western arm of the monsoon line remains stagnant after covering Veraval, Surat and Damoh. Temperatures will rise and settle in the higher thirties due to absence of rain.
South India: Weather in South India may continue to be cloudy this week though rain activity will be subdued. Last week there was little rain along the Kerala and Karnataka coast but this week it may increase a little. El Nino was the strongest in June this year but even then Kerala and Karnataka received some good showers. Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh which generally remain dry compared to the west coast, may witness rain in the first half of the week due to a feeble trough but may turn dry again. Lastly, Mumbai may witness some rain towards the weekend as there is a possibility of the westerly surge increasing from the Arabian Sea.
