India is witnessing a noticeable rise in extreme weather events, with scientific studies indicating an increase in deep convective clouds, intense short-duration rainfall, and changing monsoon patterns linked to climate change. To address these emerging challenges, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is implementing Mission Mausam, a flagship initiative aimed at transforming weather forecasting, climate modelling, and disaster preparedness through cutting-edge technology and scientific research.
Recent research has highlighted significant shifts in India's weather systems. Satellite-based studies have revealed a rise in the height and frequency of deep convective clouds over the Indian subcontinent and adjoining oceanic regions. These towering cloud systems are often associated with heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and severe weather. Other long-term studies have found an increasing trend in the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events, particularly across central India, while moderate rainfall events have declined. Scientists have also documented long-term changes in low cloud cover across the country and examined the growing influence of human-induced climate change on the Indian monsoon, the Indian Ocean, and the Himalayan region.
Recognizing these evolving climatic challenges, Mission Mausam has been designed to create an integrated framework that strengthens climate science, weather prediction, satellite observations, and atmospheric research. The programme seeks to improve the understanding of changing monsoon behaviour while enhancing the country's preparedness for extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall, cyclones, heatwaves, lightning, and floods.
A major component of Mission Mausam is the adoption of advanced Multi-Model Ensemble (MME) techniques and coupled dynamical climate models for operational monthly and seasonal weather forecasting. These sophisticated forecasting systems combine multiple climate models to improve prediction accuracy for every month and season, enabling better planning in agriculture, water management, disaster response, and infrastructure development.
The mission also emphasizes the continuous upgradation of Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models. These improvements include enhanced model physics, finer spatial resolution, advanced data assimilation methods, and significantly higher computational capabilities supported by High-Performance Computing (HPC). Together, these advancements are expected to produce more accurate and timely weather forecasts.
Another key pillar of the programme is the expansion of India's meteorological observation network. Additional Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs), Automatic Weather Stations (AWSs), Automatic Rain Gauges (ARGs), lightning detection systems, upper-air observation platforms, wind profilers, and other advanced monitoring instruments are being deployed to strengthen weather observations across the country.
Satellite observations form another crucial component of Mission Mausam. The National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) routinely receives near-real-time satellite data from leading international agencies, including NASA, NOAA, the European Space Agency (ESA), China Meteorological Administration (CMA), Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), along with national agencies such as ISRO and the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The Centre has established robust infrastructure to assimilate these observations into operational weather prediction systems, thereby enhancing forecast accuracy.
Mission Mausam also promotes indigenous technological innovation. The India Meteorological Department has developed an in-house Decision Support System (DSS) that provides customized weather information for government agencies, disaster managers, and policymakers. Developed under the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the platform supports informed decision-making during weather emergencies and climate-related disasters.
To ensure that weather information reaches the last mile, forecasts and warnings are disseminated through multiple communication channels, including mobile applications, websites, APIs, SMS alerts, television, radio, and social media. Special emphasis has been placed on rural outreach through the Panchayat Mausam Seva Portal, developed jointly by IMD and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. The portal provides Panchayat-level weather forecasts through the e-GramSwaraj platform, Meri Panchayat App, e-Manchitra, and Mausamgram. Weather forecasts and agrometeorological advisories are also shared with Panchayat representatives via WhatsApp, while the Krishi Sakhi and Pashu Sakhi networks help extend these services to farmers across rural India.
Mission Mausam is also contributing significantly to climate research. NCMRWF has developed two high-resolution climate reanalysis datasets—a global dataset covering 1992–2018 at 25-km resolution and the India Meteorological Department Atmospheric Reanalysis (IMDAA) covering 1979–2020 at 12-km resolution. These datasets provide an invaluable resource for studying climate variability, extreme weather events, and developing Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning-based climate applications. Bias-corrected reanalysis products further improve assessments of heatwaves, cold waves, cyclones, and heavy rainfall.
The programme actively supports collaborative research by funding extra-mural projects at leading academic and research institutions in India and abroad. Partnerships with Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), universities, national laboratories, and international organizations strengthen research on monsoon dynamics, climate variability, numerical weather prediction, and extreme weather forecasting. India also actively participates in World Meteorological Organization (WMO) programmes to exchange scientific knowledge, observational data, and best forecasting practices.
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) is simultaneously upgrading the Monsoon Mission forecast system by incorporating improved oceanic fluxes, an advanced land surface model, river routing, and other enhancements. These improvements are expected to significantly enhance the accuracy of seasonal monsoon forecasts while strengthening predictions of extreme weather events.
Mission Mausam represents India's comprehensive response to the growing challenges posed by climate change. By combining advanced scientific research, modern observation systems, artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and extensive last-mile dissemination networks, the initiative aims to build a resilient forecasting ecosystem that safeguards lives, strengthens disaster preparedness, and supports sustainable development across the country.
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