Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, visited the India Meteorological Department (IMD) today to review its indigenous Multi-Hazard Early Warning Decision Support System (DSS), which garnered significant cost savings of ₹250 crore for the country.
Dr. Singh celebrated IMD’s achievement as a vital step towards enhancing disaster preparedness and public safety across India. The DSS, having eliminated reliance on foreign technology, resulted in additional savings of ₹5.5 crore in yearly maintenance, exemplifying the government’s commitment to the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative focused on self-reliance.
In addition to reviewing the DSS, Dr. Singh also explored the “Mausamgram” initiative, which offers hyperlocal weather forecasts tailored to each village. Provided in all official Indian languages, the platform delivers hourly updates extending for 36 hours and forecasts spaced out over three hours for five days and six hours for up to ten days. Citizens can access weather information effortlessly by using their PIN code or location.
The IMD’s modernization efforts have significantly enhanced its forecasting capabilities, increasing lead time from five to seven days. By managing to cut forecast preparation time by three hours and elevate accuracy by 15-20%, the department has set a new standard in meteorological services.
During discussions with IMD officials, Dr. Singh pushed for the integration of AI-based tools in “Mausamgram” to enhance user interaction and accessibility. He urged that the Multi-Hazard Early Warning System be further developed to deliver more clear and actionable alerts, ensuring timely responses during disasters.
The Minister expressed congratulations to the IMD for receiving the National Award for e-Governance 2025 at the 28th National Conference in Visakhapatnam, a recognition of IMD’s excellence in digital public service delivery through the DSS initiative.
Dr. Singh praised the IMD’s Special Swachhata Program, which generated ₹30 lakh from e-waste disposal while reclaiming 600 square meters of space within its facilities. The minister participated in the “Special Swachhata Program 5.0” organized at IMD’s headquarters, “Mausam Bhavan,” where he planted a sapling under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign and honored 50 “Safai Mitras” for their valuable contributions to cleanliness and sustainability efforts.
Looking towards the future, Dr. Singh highlighted the ambitious Mission Mausam, which aims to boost IMD’s forecasting capabilities through the installation of advanced meteorological instruments by 2030. This initiative will facilitate 5×5 km-scale hazard forecasting, enable dynamic impact-based forecasting, and provide risk-based early warnings. The overarching goal is to ensure that critical warnings reach every household, realizing the vision of “Har Har Mausam, Har Ghar Mausam.”
