The Hindu Kush Himalaya Monsoon Outlook 2026 by ICIMOD has warned that several parts of the HKH region may face below-normal monsoon rainfall, but the risk of climate hazards such as flash floods, landslides, droughts, heat stress and glacial lake outburst floods remains high. The issue is important for UPSC because it links Himalayan ecology, monsoon variability, El Niño, cryosphere change, disaster management, water security and India’s climate adaptation strategy.