The monsoon season in India has passed and according to official data released by the Met department India's monsoon this year was the worst since 1972 with 24% less rainfall than average. Dividing the country into four broad zones, the northwest region suffered the most with a 36% deficit in rainfall this year. Close on its heels is the northeast region and central India which faced a 27% and 20% deficit respectively. The southern peninsula was better off with a shortage of just 4%. Now the government has a much tougher task on its hands as it will have to find a way of keeping a lid on inflation (since food prices are rising) and at the same time not thwart India's GDP growth too much.