Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh, visited the India Meteorological Department (IMD) today to review the Web-GIS-based Multi-Hazard Early Warning Decision Support System (DSS). This system, developed indigenously by IMD, has resulted in significant cost savings of ₹250 crore.
Dr. Singh praised the IMD’s accomplishment, underlining that this self-reliant and technology-driven forecasting platform strengthens disaster preparedness and enhances public safety nationwide. He highlighted the cost efficiency of the DSS, which has lessened dependence on foreign vendors and saved an additional ₹5.5 crore in annual maintenance costs, in alignment with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
During his visit, Dr. Singh also reviewed the Mausamgram initiative, a citizen-focused weather platform that provides hyperlocal weather forecasts at the village level. This system allows users to access hourly forecasts for up to 36 hours, three-hourly forecasts for five days, and six-hourly forecasts for a period of ten days. Users can conveniently retrieve forecasts based on PIN code or location, ensuring accessibility across diverse regions.
With an emphasis on inclusivity, Mausamgram is available in all official Indian languages, making weather information straightforward for every citizen to understand and utilize.
The IMD continues to modernize its forecast and alert generation process. Following recent advancements, the forecast lead time has increased from five to seven days, significantly reducing preparation time by three hours and enhancing accuracy by 15-20%.
In discussions with IMD officials, Dr. Singh underscored the need to incorporate AI-based tools into Mausamgram to enhance its interactivity and user-friendliness. He urged the department to improve the Multi-Hazard Early Warning System to deliver clear and actionable alerts, facilitating prompt disaster responses.
The Minister congratulated the IMD team for securing the National Award for e-Governance 2025 at the 28th National Conference on e-Governance held in Visakhapatnam. This prestigious award recognizes the IMD’s excellence in delivering digital public services through the DSS initiative.
Furthermore, Dr. Singh praised the department for its performance under the Special Swachhata Program, noting the significant revenue of ₹30 lakh generated from the disposal of e-waste and old files, alongside the clearance of 600 square meters of space. He participated in the Special Swachhata Program 5.0 at IMD’s headquarters, Mausam Bhavan, where he planted a sapling as part of the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign and felicitated 50 Safai Mitras for their unwavering commitment.
Looking ahead, Dr. Singh spoke about Mission Mausam, which aims to install advanced meteorological instruments by 2030. This initiative intends to enhance the IMD’s forecasting capabilities, enabling 5×5 km-scale hazard forecasting, dynamic impact-based forecasting, and risk-based early warnings. The goal is to achieve last-mile connectivity, ensuring that timely early warnings reach every household, embedding the vision of “Har Har Mausam, Har Ghar Mausam” in communities across India.
