Rainfall Distribution in India: Quick Answer
India's average annual rainfall is about 125 cm, but it varies enormously from place to place (NCERT, Class 11, India: Physical Environment, Chapter 4). It is highest (over 200 cm) along the west coast and Western Ghats, the sub-Himalayan north-east and the hills of Meghalaya, and lowest (below 50 cm) in western Rajasthan, Ladakh and rain-shadow parts of the Deccan. Mawsynram in the Khasi hills receives the highest average annual rainfall in the world, while Jaisalmer rarely gets more than 9 cm a year.
Key exam takeaway: Rainfall falls from east to west in the northern plains and from the west coast to the interior in the peninsula. Windward slopes are wet; leeward (rain-shadow) areas are dry.
For the 2026 season, IMD reports all-India June–September rainfall of 759.4 mm against a Long Period Average of 868.6 mm (87%), with the East and North-East region at only 74% of its normal. The mechanism behind these patterns is in Indian Climate Notes for SSC (monsoon and Koppen).
The Four Rainfall Zones of India (NCERT)
| Zone | Annual rainfall | Areas (NCERT) |
|---|---|---|
| High rainfall | Over 200 cm | West coast, Western Ghats, sub-Himalayan areas of the north-east, hills of Meghalaya (parts of the Khasi and Jaintia hills exceed 1,000 cm) |
| Medium rainfall | 100–200 cm | Southern Gujarat, east Tamil Nadu, north-eastern peninsula (Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, eastern Madhya Pradesh), northern Ganga plain along the sub-Himalayas, Cachar valley, Manipur |
| Low rainfall | 50–100 cm | Western Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, eastern Rajasthan, Gujarat, Deccan Plateau |
| Inadequate rainfall | Below 50 cm | Parts of the peninsula (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra), Ladakh, most of western Rajasthan |
NCERT notes that in the Brahmaputra valley and adjoining hills rainfall is less than 200 cm even though the surrounding hills are much wetter.
Wettest and Driest Places: Facts to Remember
| Fact | Detail (NCERT) |
|---|---|
| Highest average annual rainfall in the world | Mawsynram, on the crest of the Khasi hills, Meghalaya |
| Cherrapunji and Mawsynram | Receive over 1,080 cm a year |
| Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) | Rarely more than 9 cm a year |
| Tura (Garo hills) | Can receive in one day as much rain as Jaisalmer gets in 10 years |
| North-west Himalayas and western deserts | Less than 10 cm a year |
| Meghalaya | Over 400 cm a year |
| Windward side of the Western Ghats | 250–400 cm during the southwest monsoon |
| Delhi winter rainfall | About 53 mm on average |
Why Rainfall Is So Uneven: 5 Causes
- Relief (mountains): the Western Ghats force the Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon to rise and shed rain on their windward slopes; the leeward side (interior Karnataka, Maharashtra plateau, Tamil Nadu) is a rain-shadow area.
- Distance from the sea: the Bay of Bengal branch loses moisture as it moves west up the Ganga plain, so rainfall decreases from Kolkata towards Punjab.
- Direction of winds relative to the coast: the Tamil Nadu coast lies parallel to the Bay of Bengal branch, so it stays relatively dry in June–September and gets its main rain from the northeast monsoon in October–December.
- Funnel-shaped hills: the Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills trap the Bay of Bengal branch, giving Meghalaya very heavy rain.
- Aravalli alignment: the Aravallis run parallel to the Arabian Sea branch that crosses Saurashtra and Kachchh, so western Rajasthan gets only scanty rain.
Region-Wise Monsoon Rainfall, 2026 (IMD, As of 30 September 2026)
| Region | Long Period Average (mm) | 2026 actual (mm) | % of LPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| All India | 868.6 | 759.4 | 87 |
| Northwest India | 587.6 | 553.0 | 94 |
| Central India | 978.0 | 952.8 | 97 |
| East and Northeast India | 1,367.3 | 1,016.3 | 74 |
| South Peninsula | 716.2 | 542.0 | 76 |
| Monsoon core zone | 826.0 | 779.9 | 94 |
Notice that East and Northeast India has the highest normal (1,367.3 mm) but had the weakest season in 2026. The 2026 season coincided with strong El Niño conditions; see El Niño, La Niña and IOD. Month-wise, IMD recorded 65% of LPA in June, 101% in July, 84% in August and 92% in September.
Rainfall and What It Decides
| Rainfall | Natural vegetation (NCERT) | Typical crops |
|---|---|---|
| Over 200 cm | Tropical evergreen | Rice, rubber, spices |
| 100–200 cm | Moist deciduous | Rice, jute, sugarcane |
| 70–100 cm | Dry deciduous | Wheat, maize, pulses, cotton (with irrigation) |
| Below 50 cm | Tropical thorn | Bajra, jowar, with irrigation wheat and mustard |
See types of forests in India and kharif, rabi and zaid crops for the full links.
Rainfall Distribution: 10 Practice MCQs
Q1. India's average annual rainfall is about: (a) 50 cm (b) 75 cm (c) 125 cm (d) 250 cm Answer: (c).
Q2. Which place receives the highest average annual rainfall in the world? (a) Cherrapunji (b) Mawsynram (c) Agumbe (d) Tura Answer: (b).
Q3. Which of these gets less than 50 cm of rain a year? (a) Konkan coast (b) Western Rajasthan (c) Assam (d) Odisha Answer: (b).
Q4. The interior of Karnataka is relatively dry during the southwest monsoon because it is: (a) Too far north (b) In the rain shadow of the Western Ghats (c) Near the Thar desert (d) Affected by western disturbances Answer: (b).
Q5. Rainfall in the northern plains generally: (a) Increases from east to west (b) Decreases from east to west (c) Is uniform (d) Is highest in Punjab Answer: (b).
Q6. Southern Gujarat and Odisha fall in which rainfall zone? (a) Over 200 cm (b) 100–200 cm (c) 50–100 cm (d) Below 50 cm Answer: (b).
Q7. In 2026, which region recorded the lowest percentage of its monsoon LPA (IMD)? (a) Northwest India (b) Central India (c) East and Northeast India (d) Monsoon core zone Answer: (c). 74%.
Q8. The Long Period Average of all-India June–September rainfall is: (a) 759.4 mm (b) 868.6 mm (c) 1,250 mm (d) 1,367.3 mm Answer: (b).
Q9. Western Rajasthan gets little rain from the Arabian Sea branch partly because the Aravallis: (a) Block the winds completely (b) Lie parallel to the wind direction (c) Are covered with snow (d) Face the Bay of Bengal Answer: (b).
Q10. Jaisalmer rarely receives more than: (a) 9 cm (b) 25 cm (c) 50 cm (d) 75 cm of rain a year. Answer: (a).
More practice: Indian climate MCQs for SSC, the SSC CGL geography mock test 01 and the SSC CHSL geography mock test 02.
Rainfall Distribution in India FAQs
Which state receives the highest rainfall in India?
Meghalaya, where parts of the Khasi and Jaintia hills receive over 1,000 cm a year; Mawsynram holds the world record for average annual rainfall.
Which is the driest part of India?
Western Rajasthan and Ladakh receive less than 50 cm a year; parts of the north-west Himalayas and western desert get under 10 cm.
What is a rain-shadow area?
The leeward side of a mountain, where descending winds become warmer and drier, so rainfall is low. The interior Deccan east of the Western Ghats is India's best-known example.
Why does Tamil Nadu get rain in winter?
Its coast lies parallel to the southwest monsoon's Bay of Bengal branch and in the rain shadow of the Arabian Sea branch; its main rain comes from the northeast monsoon in October–December.
What was India's monsoon rainfall in 2026?
759.4 mm, which is 87% of the Long Period Average of 868.6 mm, as per IMD's end-of-season statement of 30 September 2026.
Practice Next for Indian Geography
- Core notes: Indian Climate Notes for SSC
- Related: Cyclones in India, Drought and floods in India
- Also read: Indian rivers origin and end list, Major dams of India
- Mocks: SSC CGL geography mock test 02, SSC GD geography mock test 01
Sources: NCERT Class 11, India: Physical Environment, Chapter 4 Climate; IMD, Salient Features of the 2026 Southwest Monsoon (30.09.2026). Last checked 7 November 2026.