Context:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Mission Mausam on January 14, 2025, marking a significant step in strengthening India's weather forecasting and disaster management capabilities. The mission was launched during the 150th Foundation Day celebrations of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which has been serving the nation since its establishment in 1875.

About Mission Mausam:

·        Mission Mausam aims to upgrade the capabilities of India’s weather department in forecasting, modelling, and dissemination of weather information. With a budget of Rs 2,000 crore for the first two years, this initiative will focus on improving weather surveillance, forecasting, and modelling across various sectors. These sectors include agriculture, aviation, defence, disaster management, tourism, and health, which all rely heavily on accurate and timely weather information.

·        The mission will build on earlier initiatives like Mission Monsoon (2012), which focused on improving long-range monsoon predictions. Currently, IMD’s forecasting of extreme events such as heatwaves is about 97.99% accurate, while heavy rainfall forecasts stand at approximately 80% accuracy. Mission Mausam aims to push these figures higher, ensuring better preparedness for extreme weather conditions.

Key Objectives of Mission Mausam

·        The mission seeks to cover all aspects of weather services, from routine forecasts to the management of extreme weather events. A significant part of the initiative will be to explore weather modification techniques, such as enhancing or suppressing rainfall, fog, hail, and lightning strikes. To achieve this, India will invest in advanced research on cloud physics.

·        India is setting up a first-of-its-kind cloud chamber at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune. This facility will allow scientists to study the cloud formation process under controlled conditions and enhance India’s understanding of the monsoon clouds, which are crucial for the country’s weather patterns. The cloud chamber will have convection properties, making it unique globally, as only a few countries have similar facilities.

Who Will Oversee Mission Mausam?
Mission Mausam will be led by three key institutions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences: the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune, and the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) in Noida. These institutions will collaborate to implement the mission’s objectives and enhance India’s climate resilience.

Conclusion
Mission Mausam represents a crucial step in ensuring that India is weather-ready and climate-smart. With a focus on upgrading weather forecasting systems, enhancing disaster management, and pioneering new research in cloud physics, the mission will directly benefit various sectors. As India faces the growing impacts of climate change, Mission Mausam will play a pivotal role in minimizing the effects of natural disasters and enhancing the nation’s preparedness for future climate challenges.