Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, visited the India Meteorological Department (IMD) today. He reviewed the Web-GIS based “Multi-Hazard Early Warning Decision Support System (DSS)”. This indigenous system has resulted in a remarkable saving of ₹250 crore for the nation.
Dr. Singh commended IMD’s achievement in developing a self-reliant, technology-driven, and citizen-centric forecasting platform, which strengthens disaster preparedness and public safety across India. By eliminating dependence on foreign vendors, the DSS has also saved an additional ₹5.5 crore annually in maintenance costs, aligning perfectly with the government’s vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat”.
In addition, Dr. Singh reviewed the recently launched “Mausamgram”, a citizen-focused weather information platform. It offers hyperlocal forecasts at the village level, providing hourly forecasts for 36 hours, three-hourly forecasts for 5 days, and six-hourly forecasts for up to 10 days. Users can easily access forecasts by PIN code, location name, or by selecting their state, district, block, and gram panchayat. This platform is available in all official Indian languages, ensuring accessibility for every citizen.
The IMD has significantly modernized its forecast and alert generation processes. The improvements extend the lead time from 5 to 7 days, cut the forecast preparation time by three hours, and enhance overall accuracy by 15–20%. This progressive shift marks a substantial advancement in India’s meteorological capabilities.
During his interaction with IMD officials, Dr. Singh stressed the importance of incorporating AI-based tools into “Mausamgram” to make it more interactive and user-friendly. He urged the department to enhance the Multi-Hazard Early Warning System to provide citizens with clear and actionable alerts, promoting timely disaster response.
The commendation did not end there; Dr. Singh congratulated the IMD team for winning the National Award for e-Governance 2025 at the 28th National Conference on e-Governance in Visakhapatnam. This award recognizes IMD’s exceptional performance in digital public service delivery through the DSS system.
Additionally, he praised the department’s accomplishments under the Special Swachhata Program, which generated ₹30 lakh from the disposal of e-waste and old files, clearing 600 square meters of space. Dr. Singh participated in the “Special Swachhata Program 5.0” at the IMD headquarters, Mausam Bhavan, where he planted a sapling under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign and honored 50 “Safai Mitras” for their dedication.
Looking towards the future, Dr. Singh spoke about the Mission Mausam. This initiative aims to install advanced meteorological instruments by 2030, enhancing IMD’s forecasting capabilities. The goals include 5×5 km-scale hazard forecasting, dynamic impact-based forecasting, and risk-based early warnings. Importantly, this initiative aims for last-mile connectivity, ensuring that early warnings reach every household, thus fulfilling the vision of “Har Har Mausam, Har Ghar Mausam.”
