Amit Shah and Shivraj Singh Chouhan review below-normal rainfall and drought risk from El Nino

📌 Summary:

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviewed below-normal rainfall and potential drought in parts of the country linked to 'El Nino'
• Government is continuously monitoring monsoon rainfall and possible drought conditions; states to be advised on suitable cropping
• Directions: Ministry of Jal Shakti to monitor all water bodies (large and small) and groundwater; Power Ministry to ensure adequate electricity supply
• Emphasis on shifting to alternative, low-water crops such as fodder, millets and pulses
• Adequate buffer of essential food grains (rice, wheat) available; prices of essential commodities stable

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Disaster Management / Agriculture — drought preparedness, El Nino-monsoon linkage, water and food security.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• El Nino = abnormal warming of central/eastern equatorial Pacific, often linked to weak Indian monsoon
• Ministry of Jal Shakti (DoWR, RD & GR) handles water resources monitoring
• Millets, pulses and fodder are promoted as low-water-consuming alternative crops

🔑 Key Term: El Nino — a phase of ENSO marked by Pacific warming that tends to suppress southwest monsoon rainfall over India.