As per preliminary reports received from the States, the total area sown under Rabi crops as on 23rd December, 2015 stands at 520.07 lakh hectares.
Wheat has been sown/transplanted in 259.37 lakh hectares, pulses in 125.95 lakh hectares, coarse cereals in 52.94 lakh hectares. Area sown under oilseeds is 69.64 lakh hectares and Rice is 12.17 lakh hectares.
The area sown so far and that sown during last year this time is as follows:
** Lakh hectare
| Crop | Area sown in 2015-16 | Area sown in 2014-15 |
| Wheat | 259.37 | 279.60 |
| Pulses | 125.95 | 124.77 |
| Coarse Cereals | 52.94 | 47.83 |
| Oilseeds | 69.64 | 74.35 |
| Rice | 12.17 | 13.62 |
| Total | 520.07 | 540.17 |
Note- The Crop Weather Watch Group meeting could not held on last Friday i.e. 25th December, 2015 due to Christmas holiday.