In a historic decision, the Union Cabinet approved Mission Mausam, a comprehensive strategy aimed at making India a “Weather-Ready” and “Climate-Smart” country. The ambitious project, with a budget of Rs 2,000 crore over two years, seeks to substantially enhance India’s climate and weather observation, forecasting, and resilience.

Mission Overview

The primary purpose of the mission is to enhance India’s capacity to forecast and respond to extreme weather and other climate-related issues. This will be achieved through advanced weather monitoring, improved meteorological observations, and revolutionary forecasting technology. Scheduled to run from 2024 to 2026, the mission is part of the Indian government’s broader effort to mitigate the consequences of climate change and strengthen community resilience.

Primary Goals

The mission’s primary goals include:

• Developing next-generation radars and satellites with enhanced instrument payloads.
• Implementing high-performance computing (HPC) systems.
• Rolling out AI/ML-based weather prediction models.

Focus Areas

The program will concentrate on:

• Higher-resolution atmospheric measurements.
• Broadening the spatial and temporal scope of weather forecasting.

Infrastructure Development

To enhance observation and forecasting capabilities, the mission will build a comprehensive weather monitoring infrastructure, which includes:

• 50 Doppler Weather Radars (DWR).
• 60 Radiosonde and wind profiler stations.
• 100 Disdrometers (instruments for measuring wind speed).
• 10 Maritime automatic weather stations.
• Construction of an urban testbed.
• Establishment of an ocean research station.
• Additional cutting-edge facilities.

Also Read: India Faces Its Second Hottest Period Since 1970 Amidst Climate Change

What Does This Mission Mean for India’s Climate Resilience?

Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), stated that the Mission would play a significant role in enhancing the accuracy and efficacy of weather data throughout the country. “By March 2026, we want to have an increased number of radars, wind profilers, and radiometers for more accurate measurements. Furthermore, combining physics-based numerical models with AI/ML-driven approaches would significantly improve forecasting capabilities,” said Dr. Ravichandran.

The mission will also focus on developing capacities and making sure communities and vital sectors are better equipped to deal with climate risks. Information and services will be provided to guarantee that no meteorological event goes undetected.

The MoES has said that Mission Mausam will boost the climate, weather, and natural disaster services, complying to significant economic and social benefits for a variety of sectors.

The Indian Meteorological Department, the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting, and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology will take charge of the mission’s implementation, relying on their comprehensive knowledge to corroborate success.

This program marks a substantial furtherance in India’s readiness for climate-related pitfalls. Its mission is to deliver quick, accurate, and attainable weather information to all citizens.

Also Read: Why India Needs a Climate Insurance Market?