El Niño and La Niña are climate phenomena that affect India's weather and agriculture in different ways:

 El Niño and La Niña are climate phenomena that affect India's weather and agriculture in different ways: 

El Niño

Associated with: 

Reduced rainfall: El Niño is associated with suppressed rainfall during the monsoon season, especially in September. This can lead to below-average crop yields because Indian agriculture is heavily dependent on the monsoons. 

Poor air quality: El Niño can contribute to stable atmospheric conditions and reduced rainfall, which can trap pollutants closer to the surface. 

La Niña

Associated with: 

Increased rainfall: La Niña is associated with normal to above-normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon season. However, rainfall below normal is likely in extreme north India and some areas over Northeast India. 

Improved air quality: La Niña can help to alleviate air pollution by removing pollutants from the atmosphere through wet deposition. However, the slower monsoon retreat can also result in extended periods of high humidity, reduced atmospheric mixing, and trapped pollutants near the surface. 

Cooler winters

La Niña years are generally associated with below-normal temperatures during the winter season. 

El Nino and La Nina and its Impact on Indian Monsoon in 2023-24

El Niño and La Niña are part of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). They occur when trade winds are either weaker or stronger than average, which causes the ocean surface waters in the East and West Pacific to shift.