New Delhi (PTI): The southwest monsoon hit India on Thursday with its onset over Kerala, a week later than normal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced.

Meteorologists earlier said Cyclone 'Biparjoy' had been impacting the intensity of the monsoon and that its onset over Kerala would be "mild".

In a statement on Thursday, the IMD said, "The southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala today, June 8."

"The monsoon has advanced into remaining parts of south Arabian Sea and some parts of central Arabian Sea, entire Lakshadweep area, most parts of Kerala, most parts of south Tamil Nadu, remaining parts of Comorin area, Gulf of Mannar and some more parts of southwest, central and northeast Bay of Bengal today," it added.

The southwest monsoon normally sets in over Kerala on June 1 with a standard deviation of about seven days. In mid-May, the IMD said the monsoon might arrive in Kerala by June 4.

Skymet had predicted the monsoon onset over Kerala on June 7, with an error margin of three days.

Over the last 150 years, the date of the monsoon onset over Kerala has varied widely, the earliest being May 11 in 1918 and the most delayed being June 18 in 1972, according to IMD data.

The southwest monsoon arrived in the southern state on May 29 last year, June 3 in 2021, June 1 in 2020, June 8 in 2019 and May 29 in 2018.

Research shows a delay in the monsoon onset over Kerala (MOK) does not necessarily mean a delay in the monsoon onset over northwest India.

However, a delay in the MOK is generally associated with a delay in onset at least over the southern states and Mumbai.

Scientists say a delayed MOK also does not impact the total rainfall over the country during the season.

India is expected to get normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon season despite the evolving El Nino conditions, the IMD had earlier said.

Northwest India is expected to see normal to below-normal rainfall. East and northeast, central, and south peninsula are expected to receive normal rainfall at 94-106 per cent of the long-period average.

Rainfall less than 90 per cent of the long-period average is considered 'deficient', between 90 per cent and 95 per cent is 'below normal', between 105 per cent and 110 per cent is 'above normal' and more than 100 per cent is 'excess' precipitation.

Normal rainfall is critical for India's agricultural landscape, with 52 per cent of the net cultivated area relying on it. It is also crucial for replenishing reservoirs critical for drinking water, apart from power generation across the country.

Rainfed agriculture accounts for about 40 per cent of the country's total food production, making it a crucial contributor to India's food security and economic stability.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



(Press Release) - In continuation with the sustained efforts to empower our sales force and ensure seamless services to policyholders digitally, on a 24 x 7 basis, LIC today unveils the “One Man Office” (OMO) online service through its Agents. Through the One Man Office, LIC aims to provide a comprehensive digital ecosystem for its sales force consisting of Agents, Development Officers, Senior Business Associates, Chief Life Insurance Advisors, LIC Associates and Chief Organizer to aid in their day to day operations, strengthen their efficiency and productivity and ensuring better services to our customers. The service has been launched on 17-02-2025. Speaking on the occasion, Shri. Siddhartha Mohanty, CEO & MD, LIC of India, said it will be a vital tool at the hands of the sales force to promote life insurance and render service to LIC’s customers anytime and anywhere. It will be a shot in the arm for achieving the objective of ‘Insurance for All by 2047’.

OMO aims to aid our agents in digital sale of policies, after sales servicing for the customers for different types of services, tracking their business and act as a training cum knowledge pool for them. In short, it is a mobile digital office at the hands of sales force and plans to evolve as an easy-to-use one stop solution for all business and servicing needs, which will be available through their mobile phones, thus making them truly Atma Nirbhar in every sense.

These services are offered through the ANANDA (Atma Nirbhar Agents New Business Digital Application) platform for onboarding of customers and will have features like Premium calculator, benefit illustration, E-NACH registration, change of address, online loan request, renewal premium payments, claim related requirement submission etc. It will also have a knowledge centre, various insurance and health related calculators, office locator, NEFT search etc. for assisting Agents to help the customers.

LIC plans to add further features to this application in phases to cater to the changing needs of the users.

Dated at Mumbai on February 17th , 2025

For Further Information please contact: Executive Director (CC), LIC of India, Central Office, Mumbai.

Email id: ed_cc@licindia.com

Visit us at www.licindia.in