Discuss how Mission Mausam seeks to transform India's weather forecasting and disaster early-warning capabilities. Examine associated implementation challenges.

Q. Discuss how Mission Mausam seeks to transform India's weather forecasting and disaster early-warning capabilities. Examine associated implementation challenges. (15 marks, 250-350 words)

Approved by the Union Cabinet on 11 September 2024 with an outlay of ₹2,000 crore over two years and launched by the Prime Minister on 14 January 2025, Mission Mausam aims to make India "Weather-ready and Climate-smart" [1][2]. It marks a shift from generalised forecasting to hyperlocal, impact-based early warning.

Transforming forecasting capability - Observation network: expansion and upgradation of observing systems, including Doppler Weather Radars — which grew from 15 (2014) to 39 (2023), with a further 87 targeted — plus augmented high-performance computing [3][4]. - Indigenous modelling: the Bharat Forecast System (BharatFS) operates at 6 km resolution, enabling panchayat-level forecasts, alongside AI/ML-based advanced modelling [3][4]. - Last-mile dissemination: Mausamgram ("Har Har Mausam, Har Ghar Mausam") gives hourly forecasts for 36 hours, three-hourly for five days and six-hourly for ten days; apps like MAUSAM, MEGHDOOT and DAMINI serve farmers and lightning-prone areas [4]. - Demonstrated outcome: cyclone deaths fell from about 10,000 in 1999 to nil during 2020-24, and severe-weather forecast accuracy has reportedly improved by about 40% over the previous decade [3][4].

Implementation challenges - Institutional coordination: execution runs through three MoES bodies — IMD, IITM and NCMRWF — requiring synchronisation of observation, modelling and dissemination arms [1][4]. - Infrastructure gaps: radar densification in the Himalayan and North-Eastern terrain is difficult, and regional rollouts are separately monitored in Parliament, indicating uneven progress [5]. - Phasing and capacity: the Mission is being implemented in phases up to 2031, demanding sustained funding, specialised manpower and computing capacity [4]. - Warning-to-action gap: forecast accuracy translates into safety only when NDMA and State agencies convert alerts into evacuation and response.

Mission Mausam therefore converts meteorology from a descriptive service into a preventive disaster-risk-reduction tool. Strengthening inter-agency drills, community awareness and impact-based advisories will help India meet the Sendai Framework's goal of universal early-warning coverage, embedding resilience in developmental planning.

(~320 words)

Sources: 1. Cabinet approves 'Mission Mausam' to create a more weather-ready and climate-smart Bharat, PIB (11 Sept 2024) — Cabinet approval, ₹2,000 crore outlay, MoES and three implementing institutes 2. PM launches 'Mission Mausam', releases IMD Vision-2047, PIB — launch date and "Weather-ready and Climate-smart" objective 3. Mission Mausam Unveiled: A ₹2,000 Crore initiative to Enhance India's Weather and Climate Forecasting by 2026, PIB — radar expansion, BharatFS resolution, cyclone mortality decline 4. Parliament Question: Weather Forecasting and Early Warnings, PIB — Mausamgram forecast tiers, apps, AI/ML modelling, phased implementation, accuracy improvement 5. Parliament Question: Implementation of Mission Mausam, PIB — region-specific implementation monitoring