An Indian official said here Friday that the country expected this year's Monsoon season to be normal, with rainfall amount to reach 98 percent of the long-term average.

Indian Science and Technology Minister S. Jaipal Reddy told the media when releasing the India Meteorological Department's report that "all prediction models show that monsoon will be normal."

"By and large, the drought-hit areas of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka are likely to get normal rain," he said, referring to the western and southern states which suffered from drought over the past few years due to lack of rains.

India's Monsoon starts in late June from southern states and lasts until August in the north.