The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the country is likely to receive normal monsoon season this year following a drought like situation created in the previous year.

The IMD has predicted a normal monsoon with a 98 per cent rainfall in the country. The average is calculated by the weather officials by using a long period average (LPA) of 89 cm and has a model error of plus or minus five per cent for the upcoming south west monsoon season. The forecast of 98 per cent rail is for the whole country and for the entire monsoon season spanning from June to September.

LS Rathore, DGM at IMD said, "This time, all Indian models are indicating a normal monsoon except one model. That is the case for most international models also. We are more confident of a normal monsoon (this year) than previous year."

Experts say that the a normal monsoon this year could boost agricultural production, improve demand for consumer goods in the rural market , reduce food inflation and eventually allow the financial authority to cut interest rates and bring higher economic growth. It is believed that the weather department has recorded south west monsoon rains at 96-104 per cent of LPA this year.