PARLIAMENT QUESTION: MISSION MAUSAM

The Government is implementing Mission Mausam, a Central Sector umbrella scheme of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), with the objective of making India a "Weather-ready and Climate-smart Nation". The Mission was launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister on 14 January 2025. It aims to strengthen Earth System observations and prediction systems, improve early warnings for high-impact weather events, and deliver seamless weather and climate services, thereby enhancing climate resilience and disaster preparedness.

The Union Cabinet approved Mission Mausam in 2024 with a budget outlay of ₹2,000 crore for 2024-25 and 2025-26. The major objectives of Mission Mausam are:

• Developing cutting-edge weather surveillance technologies and systems.
• Implementing higher-resolution atmospheric observations with improved temporal and spatial sampling and coverage.
• Deploying next-generation Doppler Weather Radars, wind profilers, and satellites equipped with advanced instrument payloads.
• Implementing advanced high-performance computing systems.
• Enhancing our understanding of weather and climate processes and improving prediction capabilities.
• Developing advanced Earth system models and data-driven methods, including the use of AI/ML.
• Creating technologies and protocols for effective weather management.
• Establishing a state-of-the-art Decision Support System and dissemination system for last-mile connectivity.
• Strengthening capacity building and research collaborations.

For the period 2026-31, Mission Mausam is proposed to be implemented through six verticals, namely OBSERVE_ALL (OBSERVations Enhancement to monitor ALL weather), DEVELOP (Earth System Model DEVELOPment), Weather_MOD (Weather MODification Research Strategy), ATCOMP (ATmospheric Composition mOnitoring, Modelling and Prediction), FRONTIER (FRONTIER Technologies), and NEAT (National Enterprise for Atmospheric Technology). The Budget Estimate for Mission Mausam for 2026-27 is ₹1,342.29 crore, comprising ₹855.29 crore under Revenue and ₹487.00 crore under Capital.

Mission Mausam envisages strengthening the weather forecasting and early-warning value chain through advanced observational, modelling and computational technologies. Major interventions include:

• Augmentation and modernization of surface, upper-air, radar, satellite, lightning, aviation, marine, and ocean observational systems, along with advanced remote-sensing technologies;
• Use of high-resolution Numerical Weather Prediction and coupled Earth System Models, ensemble prediction systems, and advanced data-assimilation techniques for improved prediction of high-impact weather events;
• Application of AI/ML and hybrid physics-AI techniques for nowcasting, forecast improvement, post-processing, and development of location-specific weather information;
• Utilization of High Performance Computing (HPC) and associated data-processing and communication infrastructure for high-resolution modelling, data assimilation, and AI/ML applications; and
• Strengthening of impact-based forecasting, Decision Support Systems, and multi-channel dissemination platforms for timely and actionable early warnings and last-mile delivery of weather information.

These interventions are aimed at improving the accuracy, spatial resolution, and lead time of forecasts and warnings, particularly for high-impact weather events such as cyclones, heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, heatwaves, and urban floods.

Mission Mausam is expected to provide more accurate, timely, and location-specific weather and climate information, benefiting various weather-sensitive sectors as follows:

• Agriculture: Improved weather and agro-meteorological advisories to support crop planning, irrigation, and other farm-level decisions and reduce weather-related risks;
• Fisheries: Improved marine weather forecasts and early warnings of adverse weather and sea conditions, supporting safer fishing operations and coastal livelihoods;
• Aviation: Improved forecasting and nowcasting of fog, thunderstorms, strong winds, and other aviation weather hazards, contributing to safer and more efficient air operations;
• Disaster Management: Improved lead time and impact-based warnings for high-impact weather events, enabling better preparedness, response, and risk reduction; and
• Overall Economy: Reduced weather-related losses, improved planning and operational efficiency across weather-sensitive sectors, and enhanced climate resilience, thereby supporting sustainable economic development.

The observational and numerical modelling infrastructure under Mission Mausam is aimed at enabling higher-resolution forecasting of severe weather hazards, improved lead time for early warnings, impact-based forecasting and risk-based warnings, along with strengthening last-mile dissemination of weather information and warnings. These measures are expected to support informed decision-making, strengthen disaster risk reduction, and enhance the resilience of weather-sensitive sectors and the wider economy.

This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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NKR/JKP