Mission Mausam: Enhancing Weather Forecasting and Early Warning Systems in India
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · IR
Why in news
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Mission Mausam on 14 January 2025 to make India 'weather ready and climate smart'. The mission aims to strengthen early warning systems and improve weather and climate services across the country, including Maharashtra.
Background
India Meteorological Department (IMD) currently operates a network of Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs) and numerical weather prediction models. The mission builds on existing capabilities to enhance observation, modeling, and forecasting.
Key facts
Mission Mausam was launched on 14 January 2025 by PM Modi.
Objective: Provide seamless weather and climate services and strengthen early warning systems.
Key goals include deploying next-gen radars, wind profilers, and satellites; enhancing high-performance computing (HPC); and using AI/ML for data-driven methods.
Current DWR network: 50 radars (IMD, MoES institutes, ISRO); planned expansion to 29 C-band, 45 X-band, and 12 S-band DWRs.
Global modeling systems: IMD's GFS and NCMRWF's Mitra (both at 12 km resolution); new BharatFS runs at 6 km resolution for block/panchayat level.
Supercomputing systems: 'Arunika' at NCMRWF, Noida, and 'Arka' at IITM, Pune boost HPC capacity.
Mission focuses on impact-based decision support system (DSS) and dissemination to last mile.
Capacity building and research collaboration are key components.
Prelims pointers
- Mission Mausam launched: 14 January 2025
- Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
- Involved agencies: IMD, NCMRWF, IITM, ISRO
- DWR types: C-band, X-band, S-band
- Supercomputers: Arunika (NCMRWF), Arka (IITM)
- Global models: GFS (IMD), Mitra (NCMRWF)
- BharatFS: 6 km resolution for block/panchayat level
- AI/ML: Used for data-driven methods
Mains angles
- GS3 Disaster Management: Role of early warning systems in mitigating natural disasters like cyclones and heavy rainfall.
- GS3 Science and Technology: Application of AI/ML and HPC in weather forecasting; indigenous technology development.
- GS2 Government Policies: Mission Mausam as a flagship scheme for climate resilience and disaster preparedness.