May 23, 2025The monsoon, the lifeblood of the country's $4 trillion economy, delivers nearly 70% of the rain that India needs to water farms and replenish aquifers and reservoirs.Nearly half of India's farmland,

By Rajendra Jadhav MUMBAI (Reuters) -Monsoon rains hit the coast of India's southernmost state of Kerala on Saturday, eight days earlier than usual, marking the earliest arrival in 16 years and providing the promise of a bumper harvest and relief from a gruelling heatwave.

India's 2025 monsoon season kicked off earlier than expected, marking its earliest onset since 2009. Rainfall began in Kerala on May 24, eight days ahead of the usual June 1 start. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed this rare early arrival,