New Delhi, July 28 -- About 84% of India has received normal-to-excess rains in the ongoing monsoon season, prompting robust planting of kharif cereals like rice, plus a surge in maize acreage. This implies favourable food prices and more legroom to produce ethanol. Mint explains:

India receives about three-fourths of its annual rainfall during the south-west monsoon season that runs from June to September. Nearly halfway into the four-month season, rains were 8% above normal (50-year average) till 27 July. Data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) shows that 28 states and Union territories have received normal to excess rains, while rains were deficient in eight. Further, rainfall has been unevenly distributed.

Some states ha...