-Reuters Monsoon rains continued below average in the past week, the weather office said today, keeping much of India's rain-fed areas still thirsty halfway through the June to September season. Monsoon rains were 20% below average in the week to July 25 after a 22% shortfall the previous week. But the rains improved over rice and soybean growing areas of eastern and central India, data published on the weather office's website showed. A GoM...

-The Times of India COIMBATORE: The rainfall pattern during the current south-west Monsoon is similar to 2009 when the country witnessed a drought. The overall rainfall deficiency has been 21.9% below the LPA ( Long Period Average) till July 18, which is similar to the one witnessed in 2009. This has raised the specter of drought in the country this year, observers tracking the agriculture sector have said. A drought year is...

-The Indian Express From Nariman Point to Tirupur, from broking firms to ancillary industries — as a two-part series in this newspaper has illustrated — the economy is seeing a steady contraction in employment opportunities. The economic and social cost is sobering but the UPA should also worry about the political implications. Lakhs of jobs are being lost when India is heading for a general election that could be decided primarily...

-The Economic Times The food and consumer affairs ministry plans stern action to curb any speculative trading of grains in the futures market after an emergency meeting slated for later this week to review the price situation. Food and consumer affairs minister KV Thomas is taking a daily stock of prices as the country grapples with a below- normal Monsoon. "After reviewing the situation in the futures market, we will send the...

-CNN-IBN With deficient Monsoon rains throughout the country so far, experts have now warned that the drought situation can no longer be ignored and that it is the time to act. Food Minister KV Thomas admitted on Tuesday that the situation is worrisome and that the government will have to take measures to check hoarding as deficient rainfall will lead to crop failure. Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices (CACP) Chairman Ashok...