As climate change accelerates and extreme weather events intensify, India is stepping up with a landmark initiative — Mission Mausam. Approved by the Union Cabinet on September 11, 2024, with a budget of ₹2,000 crores, the project sets out to transform India into a weather-ready, climate-smart nation by 2026.
Driven by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Mission Mausam combines cutting-edge technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and a nationwide network of weather instruments to revolutionise forecasting accuracy and disaster preparedness.
Why Mission Mausam Matters
India is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. From cyclones and floods to droughts and heatwaves, the economic and human costs of extreme weather are rising each year. Mission Mausam directly addresses this challenge by:
- Expanding advanced weather monitoring infrastructure.
- Integrating AI/ML with traditional meteorological models.
- Enhancing community-level warning systems.
- Training the next generation of weather scientists.
This initiative aims to ensure that no weather system in the country goes undetected.
Transformative Weather Technologies
Mission Mausam is investing heavily in next-gen forecasting tools. By March 2026, India will deploy a massive observational network including:
- 50 Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs): Track storms, rainfall intensity, and wind speeds with precision.
- 60 Radio Sonde/Wind Stations (RS/RW): Provide critical data on pressure, temperature, and wind.
- 100 Disdrometers & 10 Wind Profilers: Enhance rain and wind modelling for localised forecasts.
- 25 Radiometers: Improve satellite-based weather predictions.
- Urban Testbeds & Ocean Research Stations: Study microclimates in cities and coastal regions most vulnerable to climate change.
This ecosystem will drastically improve spatial and temporal accuracy of forecasts, especially for cyclones, monsoons, floods, and urban weather events.
AI & Machine Learning in Forecasting
Traditionally, weather models depend on physics-based simulations. But these models struggle with the complexity of the atmosphere.
Mission Mausam tackles this by merging AI/ML algorithms with numerical models, allowing India to:
- Process massive datasets from radars, satellites, and ground sensors in real time.
- Deliver location-specific forecasts down to Panchayat levels.
- Provide early warnings for disasters like floods, landslides, and cyclones with improved precision.
This is a game-changer in predicting extreme events, reducing losses, and improving public safety.
Training, R&D & Global Collaboration
To make the mission future-proof, capacity building is at its core. India will:
- Train meteorologists, engineers, and data scientists in next-gen weather tech.
- Collaborate with international research institutes and private industry.
- Strengthen leading institutions like IMD, NCMRWF, IITM, INCOIS, and NIOT.
The mission is not just about technology but also about fostering innovation in atmospheric science, positioning India as a global leader in weather research.
Societal & Economic Impact
The ripple effects of Mission Mausam will reach across multiple sectors:
- Agriculture: Farmers get timely rain and temperature updates for better crop planning.
- Fisheries: Safer navigation and improved yield predictions.
- Aviation & Shipping: More accurate forecasts for smooth operations.
- Disaster Management: Early warnings for floods, cyclones, and landslides save lives.
- Urban Planning: Tools to tackle urban flooding and microclimate challenges.
This isn’t just a weather project — it’s an economic and social resilience blueprint.
Expert Insights: Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra
Dr. Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology at IMD, explains:
- Accuracy Gains: Forecast precision is expected to improve by 10%.
- Last-Mile Connectivity: Panchayat-level forecasts will reach users via Mausam, Meghdoot, and Damini apps.
- Flood Reduction: Specialised models will address urban flooding, landslides, and coastal risks.
Looking Ahead
Mission Mausam represents a historic leap in India’s climate strategy. By combining AI, state-of-the-art instruments, and community-level forecasting, India is setting the stage for a climate-resilient future.
By 2026, with every storm tracked and every village warned in advance, Mission Mausam will stand as a testament to India’s commitment to protecting lives, livelihoods, and the economy against climate shocks.
Contributed by: Science Media Communication Cell, CSIR-NIScPR, New Delhi, Employment News
