Rabi Sowing Area Expansion Supported by Surplus Monsoon

Exam-focused facts from the 20 January 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

India’s rabi sowing for 2025-26 rose 2.8% to 64.42 million hectares, exceeding the seasonal average of 63.78 million hectares.
The increase was driven by higher acreage under wheat, rice, pulses, and oilseeds, with wheat coverage up by 613,000 hectares.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare released the data, attributing the rise to adequate soil moisture from an above-normal monsoon.