A weaker-than-normal southwest monsoon could pose risks to India's rural economy by reducing farm incomes, increasing food inflation and slowing consumption demand in the coming months, according to a report by S&P Global Ratings.

Scant monsoons have added to higher farm input prices after the geopolitical events and are expected to trump rural demand and push prices further up, according to expert analyses.

India's $35 billion microfinance sector faces fresh risks as weak monsoon forecasts and persistent inflation threaten rural incomes, increasing the likelihood of loan defaults.…