Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, visited the India Meteorological Department (IMD) today to review the newly developed Multi-Hazard Early Warning Decision Support System (DSS). This innovative system has generated a cost saving of ₹250 crore, reinforcing India’s commitment to self-reliance and advanced technology.
During his visit, Dr. Singh praised the IMD for creating a self-reliant, technology-driven, and citizen-centric platform that bolsters disaster preparedness and public safety nationwide. He remarked on the efficiency of the DSS, which now minimizes reliance on foreign vendors and brings down annual maintenance costs by approximately ₹5.5 crore. This initiative aligns perfectly with the government’s visionary “Atmanirbhar Bharat” plan.
Dr. Singh also examined the “Mausamgram”, a citizen-focused weather information platform offering hyperlocal forecasts. This system provides hourly forecasts for 36 hours and three-hourly forecasts for up to 5 days, with six-hour forecasts extending up to 10 days. Users can easily determine forecasts by PIN code, location name, or by selecting their state or district. It’s now available in all official Indian languages, ensuring accessibility for all citizens.
The IMD has undertaken significant modernization efforts that extend the forecast lead time from 5 to 7 days, reduce preparation time by three hours, and enhance forecast accuracy by 15–20%.
In discussions with IMD officials, Dr. Singh stressed the importance of integrating AI-based tools into “Mausamgram,” aiming to enhance its interactivity and user-friendliness. He insisted on improving the Multi-Hazard Early Warning System to provide citizens with clear and actionable alerts for more timely disaster responses.
The Minister also congratulated the IMD on securing the National Award for e-Governance 2025 at the recent National Conference on e-Governance in Visakhapatnam, acknowledging IMD’s strides in improving digital public service delivery via the DSS system.
Moreover, Dr. Singh lauded the department’s efforts under the Special Swachhata Program, which yielded ₹30 lakh from e-waste and old files disposal, clearing 600 square meters of space. He participated in the “Special Swachhata Program 5.0” at the IMD headquarters, “Mausam Bhavan,” where he planted a sapling in the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign and honored 50 “Safai Mitras” for their dedicated contributions.
Looking ahead, Dr. Singh articulated the vision for Mission Mausam, set to enhance IMD’s forecasting capabilities through the installation of advanced meteorological instruments by 2030. This mission aims to facilitate 5×5 km-scale hazard forecasting, provide dynamic impact-based forecasts, and ensure risk-based early warnings are implemented effectively. The goal lies in achieving last-mile connectivity to ensure that early warnings reach every household, fulfilling the directive of “Har Har Mausam, Har Ghar Mausam.”
