GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the ₹2,000-crore ‘Mission Mausam’ on Wednesday, September 11, in the Union Cabinet.
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The mission aims in enhancing research and development in weather surveillance and forecasting. Over the upcoming years, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) will supervise the mission’s implementation.
According to a Government press release, Mission Mausam will focus on improving atmospheric sciences, modelling, forecasting, and management. The initiative will integrate advanced observation systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and high-performance computing to set new standards for precise weather predictions.
This mission will primarily be implemented by three institutes under the Ministry of Earth Sciences: the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), and the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF).
Mission Mausam is expected to benefit multiple sectors, including agriculture, disaster management, defence, aviation, and power. It will also aid in urban planning, transport, offshore operations, and environmental monitoring.
While many of the mission's activities align with existing projects, it marks a significant step toward advancing India's weather forecasting capabilities. Also, better weather surveillance and forecasting are crucial for the Northeastern States of India due to their unique topography and climate, which make them particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events.