Sep 21, 2024
MISSION MAUSAM: INDIA’S EFFORTS TO BOOST WEATHER FORECASTS AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE
MISSION MAUSAM: INDIA’S EFFORTS TO BOOST WEATHER FORECASTS AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE
1. What is “Mission Mausam,” and what are its primary goals?
“Mission Mausam” is an initiative approved by the Indian government with a budget of ₹2,000 crore over two years. Its primary aim is to enhance India’s ability to predict extreme weather events and tackle climate change impacts. This will be achieved through improved weather and climate information across various scales, focusing on air quality, monsoon, extreme weather events like cyclones, and climate interventions for managing hail, fog, and rain.
2. Which institutions will implement Mission Mausam?
The mission will be implemented by three key institutions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES):
• India Meteorological Department
• Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
• National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting
These institutions will be supported by other MoES bodies like the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, National Centre for Polar and Ocean
Research, and the National Institute of Ocean Technology.
3. What advanced technologies will be used in Mission Mausam?
Mission Mausam will deploy next-generation radars and satellite systems with high-performance supercomputers. It will also incorporate advanced Earth system models, GIS-based decision support systems, and cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict weather with greater precision.
4. What sectors will benefit from the mission’s outcomes?
The mission will benefit multiple sectors, including agriculture, disaster management, aviation, energy, and water resources. It will help in improving decision-making related to land-use planning, transportation, and environmental monitoring. For example, by offering timely cyclone warnings, the mission can help protect coastal communities from severe damage.
5. How does Mission Mausam address climate change in India?
As climate change intensifies extreme weather events like heatwaves, cyclones, and heavy rainfall, Mission Mausam aims to predict these events more accurately. The program will assist in capacity building and improving resilience across communities, sectors, and ecosystems, preparing India for long-term climate impacts.
6. What are some recent examples of extreme weather events in India?
According to a 2024 report by the Centre for Science and Environment, India experienced 318 extreme weather events in 2023, with every state and union territory facing at least one. These events resulted in 387 human deaths and damage to over 2.21 million hectares of crop area. The loss to farmers was particularly severe, with some marginal farmers reporting over 80% losses in their yields due to extreme conditions.
7. What impact will Mission Mausam have on India’s agriculture sector?
Agriculture, being highly dependent on weather, will see significant improvements due to Mission Mausam’s weather forecasting abilities. With early warnings for cyclones, droughts, and floods, farmers can make informed decisions on crop planning, irrigation, and harvesting, reducing the risk of crop loss and ensuring better food security.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
