India braces for El Niño effects on agriculture and power grid

The Prime Minister’s Office convened a high‑level review on 7 July 2026, chaired by Principal Secretary PK Mishra, to assess El Niño’s impact on the kharif season and other sectors. More than fifteen ministries, including Agriculture, Power, Water, Health and the Indian Meteorological Department, presented data on monsoon delays, reservoir levels and contingency plans for 262 vulnerable districts. The meeting highlighted ongoing monitoring, updated district agriculture contingency plans, and urged continued outreach for crop‑insurance, credit and fodder supplies while tracking heat‑wave and disease risks.

A separate analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air warned that the same El Niño could create a generation gap of up to 18 TWh in India’s power system, likely prompting a surge in coal‑fired generation and an estimated 17 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions. The report stresses the need to meet the 500 GW non‑fossil target by 2030, accelerate solar and battery deployment, and strengthen grid flexibility to offset both reduced renewable output and heightened cooling demand.

Both assessments underscore the broad economic and environmental stakes of this climate event for India’s agriculture, water resources and energy security.