India's Climate Changing Rapidly: North Turns Hotter and Drier, South Gets Wetter, Reveals 70-Year IMD Study
A study published in IMD's Mausam journal has revealed major changes in India's climate between 1951 and 2020. Northwestern India's hot semi-arid zone expanded from around 25% to 33%, while peninsular India's dry zone shrank from approximately 30% to 16%. Researchers have warned that the changing climate patterns could affect agricultural planning, particularly in Uttar Pradesh.
New Delhi, October 23, 2026: India's climate patterns have undergone significant changes over the past seven decades, with northern regions becoming increasingly hot and dry while large parts of southern India have experienced wetter conditions, according to a new study published in Mausam, a peer-reviewed journal of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The research reveals that the hot, dry climate zone previously concentrated in western Uttar Pradesh has gradually expanded towards the eastern parts of the state, raising concerns about the potential impact on agriculture and seasonal farming activities.
Northern India's Dry Climate Zone Expands
Researchers analysed historical IMD temperature and rainfall records covering the period from 1951 to 2020.
The study compared successive 30-year climate periods, beginning with 1951–1980 and ending with 1991–2020, to identify long-term changes across different regions.
In northwestern India, the hot semi-arid climate zone expanded from approximately 25% of the region during 1951–1980 to nearly 33% during 1991–2020.
Meanwhile, the temperate climate zone declined from around 25% to less than 20%, indicating a substantial geographical shift towards hotter and drier conditions.
Southern India Records Wetter Conditions
Unlike the northern regions, peninsular India experienced a noticeable shift towards wetter climate classifications.
The proportion of land classified as hot semi-arid declined from approximately 30% to 16% over the study period.
Much of this area transitioned into the tropical savannah climate category, which now accounts for nearly 75% of peninsular India.
These findings suggest that changing temperature and rainfall patterns are reshaping India's traditional climatic boundaries.
Climate Changes Could Affect Agriculture
Ananya Karmakar, a scientist at IMD Pune, highlighted the eastward expansion of dry conditions across Uttar Pradesh.
According to Karmakar, the shift is particularly important because Uttar Pradesh is one of India's major agricultural regions.
Changes in temperature and rainfall could influence crop planning, sowing schedules and harvesting periods, making continuous monitoring essential.
The study identifies long-term regional climate changes but does not establish that every part of northern India has become drier or that rainfall has increased uniformly across southern India.
The findings underline the importance of using updated climate data for agricultural planning, water management and regional adaptation strategies.