RBI: Rural incomes increasingly resilient to weak monsoons

The Reserve Bank of India says rural incomes are becoming less dependent on monsoon rainfall, cushioned by non-crop activities, irrigation and diversification. A study in the Monetary Policy Committee report found non-agricultural rural growth stays near 6 per cent across rainfall conditions, while farm growth suffers more in deficit years. The findings come as India faces a likely severely deficient 2026 southwest monsoon.