Indian Ocean Dipole Current Affairs for UPSC
A complete UPSC revision trail for Indian Ocean Dipole: 4 published analyses, their syllabus connections and closely related themes.
Where this topic fits in the UPSC syllabus
Complete coverage and analysis
Newest first. Open each article for concepts, evidence, Mains questions and related reading.
El Niño 2026–27 Explained: WMO Warning, RONI and Risks for India
WMO forecasts an exceptionally strong El Niño near the end of 2026, with impacts extending into 2027. The warning highlights Pacific warming, India’s rainfall risks and the need to interpret climate forecasts carefully.
El Niño and Weak Monsoon Explained: Why Maharashtra Rainfall Has Stalled and What It Means for India
India’s southwest monsoon has shown weak progress over western India, especially Maharashtra, amid developing El Niño conditions and a large early-season rainfall deficit. IMD’s latest monsoon outlook, rainfall data and extended-range forecasts point to weak cross-equatorial flow, below-normal rainfall risk, heatwave conditions in parts of Maharashtra, and possible implications for kharif sowing, food inflation, water security and disaster preparedness.
El Niño Emerges in Pacific: How ENSO, IOD and IMD's 2026 Forecast Shape India's Monsoon
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its June 2026 ENSO and Indian Ocean Dipole bulletin, has confirmed that El Niño conditions have emerged over the equatorial Pacific Ocean and are likely to strengthen through the southwest monsoon season. The announcement follows a similar confirmation by the US NOAA and accompanies IMD's revised 2026 monsoon forecast of 90% of the Long Period Average — a "below normal" season. This article explains El Niño, the ENSO cycle, the Niño 3.4 index and the Indian Ocean Dipole, shows how the Walker Circulation links Pacific warming to a weaker Indian monsoon, and assesses what a deficient monsoon means for agriculture, food prices and heatwaves in India.
IMD Cuts 2026 Monsoon to 90% of LPA: El Niño, IOD & "Below Normal" Rainfall Explained
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its second-stage long-range forecast on 29 May 2026, lowered its 2026 Southwest Monsoon estimate to 90% of the Long Period Average (LPA), pushing the season into the "below normal" category amid a developing El Niño. This article explains the monsoon mechanism, the meaning of LPA and IMD's rainfall categories, how El Niño (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) shape Indian rainfall, the impact on agriculture and inflation, and why ample reservoirs and foodgrain buffers offer a silver lining.
Use this as a revision trail
- Start with the newest analysis to understand the present trigger.
- Read older coverage to track how the issue, policy and arguments evolved.
- Open the syllabus links above and turn recurring evidence into Mains notes.