PARLIAMENT QUESTION: UPGRADATION IN OBSERVATION NETWORK

1. At a Glance

• Parliament reply by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) (29 Jan 2026) detailing the decadal (2014–2025) upgradation of India Meteorological Department's (IMD) weather observation network and Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) coverage [S1].
• Anchored in Mission Mausam, MoES's flagship scheme to make India "Weather-ready and Climate-Smart" [S1][S2].
• UPSC relevance: GS-III (S&T, Disaster Management) — convergence of S&T, climate adaptation, disaster early warning and governance.

2. Why in the News

• 29 Jan 2026: MoES tabled a Parliament reply stating 47 DWRs are operational, covering 87% of India's geographical area [S1].
• Follows the Union Cabinet's approval of Mission Mausam (11 Sep 2024) with a ₹2,000 crore outlay for two years [S2].
• IMD's 150th anniversary (Jan 2025) coincided with the upgrade rollout [S5].

3. Background & Evolution

• IMD established 1875; oldest scientific department; HQ New Delhi; under MoES since 2006 [S5].
• 2013: only 15 radars in the national network [S6].
• 2014–2023: radar count rose to 37; AWS, ARG networks scaled up in disaster-prone districts (Idukki, Wayanad, J&K) [S6].
• 11 Sep 2024: Cabinet approves Mission Mausam [S2].
• End-2025: 47 DWRs operational (87% area coverage); Annexure-1 of the Parliament reply documents 2014 vs 2025 comparison [S1].

4. Core Static Facts

• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) [S1].
• Implementing agencies under Mission Mausam: IMD, NCMRWF (Noida), IITM (Pune) [S2].
• Mission Mausam outlay: ₹2,000 crore for 2 years (2024–26) [S2].
• Mission Mausam targets: 50 DWRs, 60 Radiosonde/Radiowind (RS/RW) stations, 100 disdrometers, 10 wind profilers, 25 radiometers, 1 urban testbed, 1 process testbed, 1 ocean research station, 10 marine AWS [S2].
• Procurement status: supply orders for 34 DWRs placed; EFC cleared procurement of 53 more DWRs [S2].
• Current DWR count: 47 (87% area coverage) as of Jan 2026 [S1].
• DWR types: S-band, C-band, X-band (dual-polarisation) [S3].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Scientific / Technological - DWRs use pulsed microwave + Doppler shift to track precipitation intensity, wind velocity and severe convection (cyclones, cloudbursts) [S3]. - Mission Mausam adds wind profilers, radiometers, disdrometers for 3-D atmospheric profiling and AI/ML-based numerical weather prediction at NCMRWF [S2].

Administrative / Governance - Tri-institutional model (IMD + NCMRWF + IITM) under single mission umbrella reduces duplication [S2]. - Coordination with NDMA, state DM authorities for last-mile early warning dissemination [S4].

Environmental / Disaster Management - Improved observation density underpins impact-based forecasts for cyclones (Bay of Bengal/Arabian Sea), heatwaves, GLOFs and Western-Himalayan cloudbursts [S4]. - Critical to NDMA's Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) and SFDRR (Sendai) commitments [S4].

Strategic - DWR augmentation in J&K (4 radars), Himalayan and coastal belts also supports defence aviation and border-area weather intelligence [S7].

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• 11 Sep 2024: Cabinet approves Mission Mausam (₹2,000 cr) [S2].
• Jan 2025: IMD celebrates 150 years [S5].
• 2025: Two new C-band DWRs plus solar panel system & Meteorological Museum inaugurated by Dr. Jitendra Singh [S8].
• 29 Jan 2026: MoES Parliament reply — 47 DWRs / 87% coverage [S1].
• Apr 2026: IITM Pune inaugurates X-band Dual-Polarisation DWR at Mahabaleshwar (HACPL); MoU with ISRO-SAC under Mission Mausam [S2].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Mission Mausam launched by MoES (not MoEFCC, not IMD alone) [S1].
• Outlay: ₹2,000 crore for 2 years; approved 11 Sep 2024 [S2].
• Implementing trio: IMD, NCMRWF, IITM [S2].
• NCMRWF is headquartered at Noida; IITM at Pune [S2].
• DWR count as on Jan 2026: 47; area coverage 87% [S1].
• DWR target under Mission Mausam: 50 DWRs [S2].
• Mission Mausam tagline: "Weather-ready and Climate-Smart" [S1].
• DWR bands deployed in India: S, C, X-band [S3].
• 4 additional DWRs being installed in Jammu & Kashmir under Mission Mausam [S7].
• IMD founded 1875; celebrated 150 years in 2025 [S5].
• Supply orders placed for 34 DWRs; EFC cleared 53 more [S2].
• Mahabaleshwar HACPL hosts new X-band DWR (Apr 2026) [S2].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: Science & Technology – Applications in everyday life; Disaster Management; Environment.
• Possible stems: 1. "Critically examine how Mission Mausam aims to transform India into a 'Weather-ready and Climate-Smart' nation. What are the implementation challenges?" (250w) 2. "Discuss the role of upgraded meteorological observation networks in mitigating climate-induced disasters in India." (150w) 3. "Evaluate the institutional architecture (IMD, NCMRWF, IITM) for weather forecasting in India." (250w)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• NCMRWF & Bhoomi/Bharat HPC — numerical weather prediction backbone.
• INSAT-3DS satellite (2024) — geostationary meteorological observation.
• NDMA & SFDRR (Sendai Framework) — disaster early warning ecosystem.
• National Monsoon Mission — predecessor scheme for monsoon modelling.
• Deep Ocean Mission — sister MoES flagship.
• Cyclone Warning System / IMD colour-coded alerts — output of the observation network.
• Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) monitoring — Himalayan application.
• WMO (World Meteorological Organisation) — IMD's international interface.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Mission Mausam is under MoES, not MoEFCC or Ministry of Science & Technology.
• Outlay is ₹2,000 crore / 2 years, not ₹2,000 crore annually.
• IMD is under MoES (since 2006), not the Ministry of Civil Aviation (its pre-2006 controlling ministry was MoCA, then Dept of Science & Technology).
• DWR coverage figure for Jan 2026 reply is 87% area, not 87% of districts.
• NCMRWF is at Noida, not Pune (IITM is at Pune).

11. Sources

• [S1] PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Upgradation in Observation Network (MoES, 29 Jan 2026) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2220209 — (tier 1)
• [S2] Mission Mausam Unveiled: ₹2,000 Crore initiative — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2054427 — (tier 1)
• [S3] PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Weather Radars under Mission Mausam — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2078027 — (tier 1)
• [S4] Earth Sciences Minister reviews IMD & disaster preparedness — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2124379 — (tier 1)
• [S5] IMD — Celebrating 150 Years of Excellence — https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/jan/doc2025114485401.pdf — (tier 1)
• [S6] Dr. Jitendra Singh: India's weather forecasting being augmented to global standards — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2141315 — (tier 1)
• [S7] IMD to install 4 additional radars in J&K under Mission Mausam — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2163866 — (tier 1)
• [S8] Two New C-Band DWRs, Solar Panel & Meteorological Museum inaugurated — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2195385 — (tier 1)