Union Cabinet Approves Rs 2,000 Crore 'Mission Mausam' to Strengthen India's Weather and Climate Services

Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has greenlit 'Mission Mausam' on September 11, 2024, with a budget allocation of Rs. 2,000 crore over the next two years. This ambitious initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, is designed to revolutionize India's capabilities in weather and climate science, research, and services. The project aims to equip a broad spectrum of stakeholders, from citizens to policymakers, with the tools to better navigate extreme weather events and the growing challenges posed by climate change.

Mission Mausam is set to significantly advance atmospheric research and development, enhancing weather forecasting, surveillance, and management. With the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and high-performance computing, the initiative is poised to deliver highly accurate weather predictions, helping India set new standards in climate and meteorological services.

The program will focus on improving observations, refining weather models, and ensuring timely and accurate climate information at various scales. This includes advanced forecasting for monsoons, air quality alerts, and warnings about extreme weather events such as cyclones. The mission also aims to tackle specific weather-related challenges like fog, hail, and rain management. To support this, India will deploy next-generation radars, satellite systems with advanced sensors, and sophisticated supercomputers. The development of Earth system models and a GIS-based automated Decision Support System will ensure real-time data dissemination.

Mission Mausam is expected to benefit various sectors, including agriculture, disaster management, defence, aviation, water resources, energy, tourism, and health. It will also enhance data-driven decision-making in urban planning, transport, environmental monitoring, and offshore operations.

Three key institutions- India Meteorological Department, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting, will lead the mission's implementation.

Supported by other organizations under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, as well as national and international collaborators from academia and industry, the initiative will strengthen India's leadership in climate science and services.