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Home / IAS Preparation / Rabi and Kharif Crops

Rabi and Kharif Crops: List of Crops & Differences - UPSC Notes

Last Updated on Jun 25, 2025
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Rabi and Kharif crops are two major cropping seasons that require specific climatic conditions and an appropriate atmosphere to grow. Rabi crops, also known as winter crops, are cultivated in India during the winter and harvested in the spring. Kharif crops, also known as monsoon crops, are domesticated plants that are grown and harvested in the Indian subcontinent during the rainy (monsoon) season, which lasts from April to October depending on region.

This topic of “Rabi and Kharif Crops” is important from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination which falls under General Studies Paper 1 (Mains) and General Studies Paper 1 (Preliminary) and particularly in the Geography section of the UPSC Exam.

In this article, we shall discuss the Rabi and Kharif Crops, their list and Time Period, Producing States, Difference between Rabi and Kharif Crops, etc.

Check out Agriculture Notes UPSC for more topics.

GS Paper

General Studies Paper I

Topics for UPSC Prelims

Types of crops, Cropping Patterns, Crop insurance schemes

Topics for UPSC Mains

Food Security, Impact of government policies like minimum support prices (MSP) on Kharif and Rabi crops.

What are Rabi and Kharif Crops?

In India, the agricultural crop cycle year runs from July to June. The Indian cropping season is categorised into two major seasons:

  • Kharif crops: Are dependent on the monsoon, and their cropping season runs from July to October. Examples include rice, maize, millet, ragi, pulses, soybean, groundnut, etc.
  • Rabi crops: Are sown in the winter after the monsoon rains are over and harvested in the summer, their cropping season runs from October to April. Examples include wheat, barley, mustard (rapeseed), oats, gram, linseed, etc.

Read the linked article for UPSC Exam to learn more about Zero Tillage!

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What is Rabi Crop?

The Arabic word ‘Rabi’ means spring. As a result, the harvesting season for Rabi crops begins in the spring. Rabi crops are sown in winter (between mid-November to December preferably after the monsoon rains have stopped), and harvested in the spring (between April and June). Unlike Kharif crops, these crops require less water to grow. Therefore, these crops can easily be grown with the help of regular/traditional irrigation methods. Some of the major Rabi crops are wheat, barley, mustard, peas, and gram.

Examples of Rabi Crops 

Here is a list of major Rabi crops along with their season, time period, and producing states:

List of Major Rabi Crops

Crop 

Time Period

Top Producing States

Wheat

Sown: 1st week of November to 3rd week of December

Harvested: April to May

Madhya Pradesh

Punjab

Uttar Pradesh

Haryana

Maharashtra

Bihar

Rajasthan

Uttarakhand, etc.

Barley (Jav)

Sown: Middle of October to end of November.

Harvested: March to April

Bihar

U.P

Punjab

Haryana

Rajasthan

Gujarat

Karnataka

Tamil Nadu

M.P

West Bengal

Himachal Pradesh

Jammu and Kashmir

Rapseed and Mustard

Sown: Between the 15th and 25th of October, or during Swati nakshtra.

Harvested: 90 to 105 days after sowing.

Uttar Pradesh

Punjab

Rajasthan

Madhya Pradesh

Bihar

Orissa

West Bengal

Assam

Gram (chickpea)

Sown: Second week of October to the first week of November.

Harvested:135 to 140 days after sowing.

Madhya Pradesh

Rajasthan

Uttar Pradesh

Haryana

Maharashtra

Punjab

Himachal Pradesh

Bihar

Pea (Matar)

Sown: mid October to mid November.

Harvested: 60 to 70 days after sowing.

Uttar Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh

Bihar

Punjab, etc.

Read the linked article for UPSC Exam to learn more about Minimum Support Price in India (MSP)!

What is Kharif Crop?

Kharif is also an Arabic word that means ‘autumn,’ and Kharif crops are primarily harvested during this season (September or October). These crops are also referred to as monsoon crops because they are sown or planted during the monsoon season. Moreover, they flourish in rain-fed areas with hot and humid climates, and their growth and yield are heavily reliant on rainfall patterns. These crops’ seeds are sown at the beginning of the monsoon season and harvested at the end of the monsoon season. However, the cycle of these crops varies from state to state in India. Rainfed agriculture in India accounts for nearly half of the country’s net sown area and nearly 40% of total food production. Major field crops cultivated in the Kharif season include:

  • Cereals (paddy, maize, millets, etc.)
  • Oilseeds (groundnut, soybean, sesame, etc.)
  • Pulses (blackgram, greengram, pigeonpea, moth bean, cluster bean, horsegram, etc.)
  • Commercial crops (cotton, sugarcane, spices, vegetables, and fruit crops).

Read the linked article for the UPSC Exam to learn more about the Green Revolution!

Examples of Kharif Crops 

Here is a list of major Kharif season crops:

List of the Major Kharif Crops

Crop

Time Period

Producing States

Paddy (Rice)

Rice is grown in India under widely varying altitude and climate conditions. Therefore, rice growing seasons differ across the country, depending on temperature, soil type, rainfall, water availability, and other climatic factors.

Sowing time of summer rice: November to February

Sowing time of monsoon rice: June to July

Harvested: 110 to 135 days after sowing.

West Bengal

Uttar Pradesh

Tamil Nadu

Andhra Pradesh

Bihar

Chhattisgarh

Odisha

Assam

Haryana

Uttarakhand, etc.

Sugarcane

Sugarcane planting seasons in sub tropical regions of India are September to October (Autumn) and February to March (Spring), whereas in tropical regions they are June to August (Adsali), January to February, and October to November (Eksali).

Harvested: It takes 12 to 18 months to mature depending on the variety and sowing time.

Uttar Pradesh

Maharashtra

Karnataka

Tamil Nadu

Bihar

Gujarat

Haryana

Andhra Pradesh

Punjab

Uttarakhand, etc.

Maize

Maize can be grown in all seasons, including the monsoon, post-monsoon, winter, and spring.

In the Kharif season, Maize is sown from May end to June

Harvested: 80 to 110 days after sowing.

Karnataka

Madhya Pradesh

Maharashtra

Telangana

Rajasthan

Tamil Nadu

Bihar

Uttar Pradesh

Gujarat

Himachal, etc.

Cotton

Sown: March-May

Harvested: 6 to 8 months after sowing.

Andhra Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh

Punjab

Odisha

Tamil Nadu

Gujarat

Haryana

Rajasthan, etc.

Jowar (Sorghum)

Sown: Last week of June to first week of July.

Harvested: 65 to 75 days after sowing.

Maharashtra

Karnataka

Andhra Pradesh

Tamil Nadu

Rajasthan

Uttar Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh

Telangana

Gujarat

Haryana, etc.

Soyabean or Goldenbean (Glycine max)

Sown: mid of June to end of June.

Harvested: 50 to 145 days after sowing, However, Depending on the varieties used for cultivation.

Madhya Pradesh

Maharashtra

Rajasthan

Karnataka

Telangana

Andhra Pradesh

Gujarat

Chhattisgarh

Read the linked article for UPSC Exam to learn more about the National Agriculture Market (eNAM)!

Difference Between Rabi and Kharif Crops

Rabi and Kharif crops differ in the following ways:

Here is a more detailed comparison of Rabi and Kharif crops with additional headers:

Feature

Rabi Crops

Kharif Crops

Season of Sowing

Winter (October - November)

Monsoon (June - July)

Season of Harvesting

Summer (March - April)

Autumn (September - October)

Dependency on Rainfall

Less dependent, grown with irrigation

Highly dependent on monsoon rains

Temperature Requirement

Require cool weather for growth and warm weather for harvesting

Require hot and humid climate for growth

Water Requirement

Moderate, mostly irrigated

High, depends on monsoon

Soil Preference

Loamy and alluvial soil

Clayey and loamy soil with good water retention

Sunlight Requirement

Moderate sunlight

Intense sunlight

Growth Duration

4-6 months

3-4 months

Susceptibility to Pests & Diseases

Less susceptible due to cooler climate

More susceptible due to humidity

Market Demand

High demand in summer months

High demand in winter months

Yield per Hectare

Generally higher due to controlled irrigation

Fluctuates depending on monsoon

Major Crops

Wheat, Barley, Mustard, Peas, Gram

Rice, Maize, Cotton, Jowar, Bajra, Groundnut, Pulses

Main Producing States

Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh

West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

Storage & Shelf Life

Can be stored for longer due to dry harvesting conditions

Perishable, requires careful storage

Economic Importance

Supports food security during summer

Major source of staple food grains in India

Read the linked article for UPSC Exam to learn more about high yielding varieties!

What are Zaid Crops?

Zaid crops are summer crops that are grown in India between the kharif (monsoon) and rabi (winter) seasons, typically from March to June. These crops require warm, dry weather for their major growing period and longer day length for flowering. 

Examples of Zaid Crops

Some examples of zaid crops include:

  • Watermelon
  • Muskmelon
  • Cucumber
  • Bitter gourd
  • Pumpkin
  • Guar (cluster beans)
  • Strawberry
  • Arhar (pigeon pea)
  • Masur (lentil)
  • Sugarcane

Conclusion

Agriculture is an important sector in India, accounting for approximately 17% of the total GDP and employing more than 60% of the workforce. India is the world’s second-largest producer of wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane, fruits and vegetables, and tea. Kharif and Rabi are two crops grown in India in two cycles each year.

Key Takeaways for UPSC Aspirants

  • Kharif crops are planted with the arrival of the monsoon (June-July) and are harvested during autumn (September-October). On the other hand, Rabi crops are sown after the monsoon rains have gone, during October-November and harvested during spring (March-April).
  • The Kharif crops demand warm and wet climatic conditions along with an abundance of water, whereas the Rabi crops require cool and dry weather along with less water.
  • Examples of Kharif crops include rice, maize, cotton, groundnut, and soybean, while examples of Rabi crops include wheat, barley, mustard, peas, and gram.
  • Kharif crops rely heavily on timely and adequate monsoon rains, whereas Rabi crops depend on residual soil moisture after the monsoon and may require irrigation.
  • Thus, Kharif season is considered very significant for the production of staple food like rice, while Rabi season is essential for cash crops and food grain production like wheat and barley.
  • Regions receiving heavy monsoon precipitation are preferred for Kharif crops. Regions that have a well-developed irrigation system support the Rabi crops.
  • Government schemes like PMFBY insurance for both Kharif and Rabi crops and seasonal risks address the issues while pricing policies, MSP, and procurement policies for Kharif and Rabi crops differ from each other.
  • Mechanization and techniques of improved irrigation are beneficial in the case of Rabi crop cycles. Techniques of managing crop cycles include remote sensing and satellite imagery for Kharif.

We hope your doubts regarding the topic have been addressed after going through the above article. Testbook offers good quality preparation material for different competitive examinations. Succeed in your UPSC IAS exam preparations by downloading the Testbook App here!

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Rabi and Kharif Crops UPSC FAQs

Wheat is a Rabi crop, as it is sown in winter and harvested in summer.

Rice is a Kharif crop, as it requires a lot of water and is grown during the monsoon season.

The major difference between Rabi and Kharif crops is the season of cultivation. Rabi crops are grown in the winter season, whereas Kharif crops are grown in the monsoon season.

The Rabi season months are typically from October to April.

The Kharif season months are generally from June to October, coinciding with the monsoon season.

Rabi crops are grown in the winter season and harvested in the summer.

Kharif crops are grown in the rainy season, beginning in June and harvested around September-October.
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