Context: 

The Prime Minister launched 'Mission Mausam' during the 150th foundation day (15th January) celebration of the India Meteorological Department.

More on the News

• A commemorative postage stamp and coin were also released about the achievements of IMD.
• Prime Minister also released the IMD Vision-2047 document for weather resilience and climate change adaptation. 

About Mission Mausam

• The mission aims to position India as a global leader in weather and climate sciences, ensuring the nation becomes ‘Weather Ready’ and ‘Climate Smart’ while meeting global standards.
• This landmark initiative by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) was earlier approved by the Union Cabinet in September 2024 with a budget of ₹2,000 crores for the first two years of its implementation. 
• As part of this mission, India will significantly boost research, development, and capabilities in atmospheric sciences, especially weather surveillance, modelling, forecasting and management.
• The initiative leverages cutting-edge technology, including high-resolution models and supercomputing systems, to provide accurate forecasts on various timescales—ranging from short-term (hours) to seasonal predictions. 

It will be spearheaded by the MoES through the following institutions: 

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD), 
• The National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), Noida, and 
• The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune

Objectives of Mission Mausam are:

• To enhance India's capability in weather forecasting across various scales—short-term, medium-term, extended-range, and seasonal.
• To develop high-resolution models for improved accuracy in predicting monsoon behaviour.
• To strengthen observational networks with advanced radars, satellites, and automated weather stations.
• To provide actionable advisories for agriculture, water resources, energy, health, and disaster management sectors.
• To build capacity through research collaborations with national and international institutions.

Implementation Approach of the Mission

• Infrastructure Development: Installation of Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs), Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), and rain gauges across the country.
• Supercomputing Power: Leveraging high-performance computing systems like Pratyush and Mihir for advanced climate modelling.
• Collaborative Research: Partnerships with global organizations like the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to enhance forecasting techniques.
• Public Outreach: Dissemination of user-friendly advisories through mobile apps (e.g., Mausam app), SMS services, and media channels.

Focus on the North-East Region: Due to frequent floods and landslides in the region, the mission will prioritizes this region by: 

• Deploying additional weather observation systems tailored to hilly terrains 
• Providing localized forecasts to mitigate the impact of extreme events 
• Collaborating with the state governments to integrate weather data into disaster management plans.

Key Challenges

• Geographical Diversity: India's varied topography requires complex region-specific models to develop.
• Climate Change Uncertainty: Rapid changes in global climate patterns make long-term predictions more challenging.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Remote areas still need more observational infrastructure like radars or AWS.
• Awareness Levels: Ensuring farmers and rural communities effectively utilise forecast information remains a key hurdle.