How much did rice area fall?

By 16.37 lakh ha, to 421.82 lakh ha.

Which crops were higher than last year?

Pulses (117.13 lakh ha) and jute and mesta (6.34 lakh ha).

Which State added the most pulses area?

Uttar Pradesh, by 3.97 lakh ha.

Kharif Sowing 2026: 1,086.31 Lakh ha; Rice Down, Pulses Up

Asked by UPSCPrelims 2020, 2019, 20133 PYQs

UPSC has already asked about this. Read the story with these questions in mind.

Prelims 2019With reference to the cultivation of Kharif crops in India in the last five years, consider the following statementsSolve with answer
Prelims 2020With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statementsSolve with answer

See all 3 PYQs

Prelims 2013Consider the following crops: Cotton …Solve with answer

Battle Brief

As on 4 September 2026, India had sown kharif crops on 1,086.31 lakh hectares, against 1,104.00 lakh ha a year earlier, a fall of 17.69 lakh ha. Rice was down 16.37 lakh ha at 421.82 lakh ha. Pulses and jute and mesta were higher than last year, with Uttar Pradesh adding the most pulses area.

Fact File

Data as on: 4 Sep 2026 (released 8 Sep)
Source: Crop Weather Watch Group (CWWG), Agriculture Ministry
Total kharif area: 1,086.31 lakh ha (last year 1,104.00)
Rice: 421.82 lakh ha, down 16.37
Pulses: 117.13 lakh ha, up 1.84
Normal area: 1,104.46 lakh ha

In the news

Kharif sowing 2026: what happened?

Every week in the kharif season the Agriculture Ministry reports how much land has been sown. It is the first hint of the harvest, and of prices later in the year. This week’s numbers show a drop in rice, offset in part by pulses.

All-India kharif area: 1,086.31 lakh ha, 17.69 lakh ha less than the same period last year.
Rice: 421.82 lakh ha against 438.19 lakh ha.
Pulses: 117.13 lakh ha against 115.30 lakh ha.
Jute and mesta: 6.34 lakh ha against 6.24 lakh ha.
Oilseeds, coarse cereals, sugarcane and cotton were all slightly lower.

Back Story

Where did rice fall?

Biggest falls: Karnataka (4.28 lakh ha), Telangana (3.61), Andhra Pradesh (1.91), Uttar Pradesh (1.84) and Madhya Pradesh (1.75).
Assam (0.52) and Odisha (0.29) reported more area.
Rice is still above its normal area of 412.00 lakh ha.

Back Story

Where did pulses and oilseeds grow?

Pulses rose most in Uttar Pradesh (3.97 lakh ha), Jharkhand (0.98) and Telangana (0.90); Maharashtra (2.60) and Karnataka (2.07) fell.
Oilseeds rose in Uttar Pradesh (2.91) and Madhya Pradesh (1.14) but fell in Rajasthan (2.23) and Gujarat (1.93).
Cotton fell in Rajasthan (1.05) and Haryana (0.90) and rose in Telangana (1.14).

Rulebook

Which constitutional entry covers agriculture?

Seventh Schedule, List II (State List), Entry 14: Agriculture, including agricultural education and research, protection against pests and prevention of plant diseases.
The Centre collects and publishes all-India crop data; States carry out farm programmes.

By the numbers

What do the numbers show?

Kharif area sown, lakh ha, as on 4 Sep 2026 (PIB, 8 Sep 2026; CWWG)
Crop	2026-27	2025-26	Change
Rice	421.82	438.19	-16.37
Total pulses	117.13	115.30	+1.84
Shri Anna and coarse cereals	181.39	182.48	-1.09
Total oilseeds	191.99	193.06	-1.07
Sugarcane	58.47	58.87	-0.40
Jute and mesta	6.34	6.24	+0.10
Cotton	109.17	109.87	-0.69
Grand total	1,086.31	1,104.00	-17.69

By the numbers

Which crops inside the groups moved most?

Selected crops, lakh ha (PIB, 8 Sep 2026)
Crop	2026-27	2025-26
Urad	25.15	22.46
Tur	45.66	44.93
Moong	33.19	34.23
Bajra	64.86	62.87
Maize	91.09	94.08
Soybean	121.82	122.98
Groundnut	49.61	50.44

Why examiners care

Why does kharif sowing 2026 matter?

Angle	What to note
Food security	Rice area is lower than last year but above normal.
Pulses self-reliance	Pulses area is up 1.84 lakh ha, led by Uttar Pradesh.
Edible oils	Oilseed area is down 1.07 lakh ha, a concern for import dependence.
Prices	Lower area in some crops can show up in prices later.
Regional pattern	Southern States account for most of the rice decline.

Fault Lines

What are the challenges in kharif sowing 2026?

Area sown is not output; yields depend on rain and pests from here on.
Maize area fell 2.99 lakh ha, which matters for feed and ethanol demand.
Falls in Karnataka are seen in rice, pulses and coarse cereals together.

Road Ahead

What should be done next on kharif sowing 2026?

Watch final area figures and the first advance estimates of production.
Plan rabi sowing and seed supply where kharif area fell.
Support pulses and oilseed growers so the gain in pulses holds.

Exam Radar

What can Prelims ask on kharif sowing 2026?

Weekly kharif area data: Crop Weather Watch Group (CWWG).
Total kharif area as on 4 September 2026: 1,086.31 lakh ha.
Rice 421.82 lakh ha; pulses 117.13 lakh ha.
Agriculture: State List, Entry 14.

Answer Lab

How to write about kharif sowing 2026 in Mains

Practice question (10 marks, 150 words): What do weekly crop-sowing data tell policymakers? Discuss with reference to the kharif sowing position in September 2026.

Intro: 1,086.31 lakh ha on 4 September 2026, down 17.69.
Trends: rice down, pulses up, oilseeds down.
Use: early warning on output and prices; input planning.
Limits: area is not yield.
Conclusion: pair with production estimates and price monitoring.

UPPCS Corner

What should UPPCS aspirants note?

UP had the largest gain in pulses area (3.97 lakh ha) and in oilseeds (2.91 lakh ha).
UP rice area fell by 1.84 lakh ha.
UP also added sugarcane (0.36 lakh ha) and coarse cereals (0.63 lakh ha).

Kharif sowing at 1,086.31 lakh ha; pulses and jute ahead of last year