Sri Lanka, May 11 -- India could be heading into a weaker-than-usual monsoon season this year, raising concerns about inflation and the broader economy.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast below-average rainfall for the June to September monsoon period - the first such outlook in three years.

Rainfall is expected to be about 92 per cent of the long-term average, making it the lowest initial monsoon forecast in more than two decades.

EL NINO A KEY FACTOR

One of the main drivers behind the weaker outlook is El Nino, a climate pattern linked to the warming of surface waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean that typically weakens India's southwest monsoon.

The monsoon season is a crucial part of India's climate system, deliveri...