India, June 30 -- The southwest monsoon arrived in Delhi on Sunday, simultaneously covering the entire country nine days ahead of schedule-a rare meteorological convergence that has occurred only five times since 2001, when IMD onset records for the Capital began.

Such timing has happened just four times previously-in 2003 (July 5), 2013 (June 16), 2018 (June 28), and 2021 (July 13).

This year's June 29 convergence marks the earliest complete national coverage since 2020, with the monsoon typically taking a median of four days to cover the entire country after reaching Delhi during the 2001-2025 period.

"The Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of Rajasthan, West Uttar Pradesh and Haryana and entire Delhi today, ...