PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Mission Mausam

1. At a Glance

• Mission Mausam is a Central Sector scheme of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) aimed at making India "weather-ready and climate-smart" through next-generation forecasting, observation and modelling infrastructure [S1][S3].
• Approved by the Union Cabinet on 11 September 2024 with an outlay of ₹2,000 crore over two years (2024-26) [S1][S2].
• Relevant to UPSC for Disaster Management (GS-III), S&T (GS-III), and Governance (GS-II) dimensions — converges climate adaptation, NWP modelling and early warning architecture.

2. Why in the News

• March 2026 Parliament Question (Rajya/Lok Sabha) by MoES updated implementation status — strengthening of IMD, IITM Pune, NCMRWF observation, NWP and HPC capacity [S5].
• Earlier 2025 Parliament replies detailed expansion of Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) network and procurement progress under the Mission [S4].

3. Background & Evolution

• Announced by MoES in 2024; Cabinet nod on 11 Sep 2024 [S1].
• Builds on prior MoES programmes: Monsoon Mission (launched 2012), High Performance Computing (HPC) initiative, and IMD's 150-year modernisation track (IMD founded 1875) [S2].
• Operational rollout phase FY 2024-25 to 2025-26; review for extension thereafter [S2].

4. Core Static Facts

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) — not MoEFCC, not MHA [S1][S5].
• Implementing institutes (3):
• India Meteorological Department (IMD) — observations, warnings [S5].
• Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune — research, NWP modelling, weather modification [S5].
• National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), Noida — medium-range NWP models [S5].
• Outlay: ₹2,000 crore (2024-26) [S1].
• Planned observation infrastructure targets [S3]:
• 50 Doppler Weather Radars (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 Automatic Weather Stations
• Type: Central Sector Scheme (100% Union funded) [S1].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Scientific / Technological - Strengthens Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models and High-Performance Computing (HPC) capacity at NCMRWF and IITM [S5]. - Adds dual-polarimetric DWRs, wind profilers, radiometers for 3-D atmospheric profiling [S3]. - Includes weather modification R&D — cloud seeding for fog/hail/rain management via IITM testbeds [S2].

Administrative / Governance - Single-mission convergence of IMD-IITM-NCMRWF avoids fragmented procurement; mission-mode delivery in 2 years [S1][S5]. - Targets panchayat-level localised forecasts — feeds into Agri-DSS, Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa [S2].

Disaster Management - Improves early warning lead-time for cyclones, heatwaves, cloudbursts, urban floods — supports NDMA/SDMA under DM Act, 2005. - Urban Testbed aimed at urban heat island and convective storm now-casting [S3].

Economic - Reduces farm losses (monsoon dependence ~46% net-sown area unirrigated); precision forecasts for aviation, shipping, power, insurance (PMFBY) [S2].

Environmental / Climate - Aligns with India's NDC adaptation pillar and NAPCC missions; supports air quality alerts (PM2.5 nowcasts) [S1].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 11 Sep 2024: Cabinet approval, ₹2,000 cr [S1].
• Sep 2024: Formal launch by MoES; Dr. Jitendra Singh statements on 2.6 lakh panchayat-level forecasts [S2].
• Dec 2024: MoES booklet "Mission Mausam — Enhancing Weather and Climate Services" released [S3].
• 2025: Parliament replies on DWR expansion and radar tenders [S4].
• 11 Mar 2026: Parliament Question reiterates progress on observation networks, NWP and HPC [S5].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Mission Mausam was approved by Union Cabinet on 11 September 2024 [S1].
• Outlay: ₹2,000 crore over 2024-26 [S1].
• Implementing ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (NOT MoEFCC) [S5].
• Three nodal institutes: IMD, IITM (Pune), NCMRWF (Noida) [S5].
• Plans 50 new Doppler Weather Radars under the Mission [S3].
• Includes 10 Wind Profilers + 25 Radiometers + 100 Disdrometers [S3].
• Aims to set up 1 Urban Testbed and 1 Process Testbed for weather modification R&D [S3].
• Predecessor flagship: Monsoon Mission of MoES (launched 2012) [S2].
• IMD was founded in 1875 (commemorated 150 years in 2025) [S2].
• Tagline: "Weather-ready and Climate-smart Bharat" [S1].
• Targets forecasts down to panchayat level (~2.6 lakh GPs) [S2].
• Includes 1 Ocean Research Station + 10 Marine Automatic Weather Stations [S3].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III — Science & Technology: indigenisation; Disaster Management; Climate change adaptation.
• GS-II — Government policies and interventions; Centre-State coordination on disaster response.
• Probable question stems: 1. "Mission Mausam marks a transition from forecasting to weather management. Examine its components and implementation challenges." (GS-III, 15 marks) 2. "Discuss how Mission Mausam can strengthen India's early warning system in the context of increasing extreme weather events." (GS-III, 10 marks) 3. "Evaluate the role of Ministry of Earth Sciences in building India's climate resilience, with reference to Mission Mausam and the Monsoon Mission." (GS-II/III)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Monsoon Mission (2012) — direct predecessor at MoES.
• IMD modernisation & Doppler Weather Radar network — hardware backbone.
• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) — consumer of early warnings.
• Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) / SACHET system — last-mile warning dissemination.
• Deep Ocean Mission — sibling MoES flagship.
• NAPCC & State Action Plans on Climate Change — adaptation linkage.
• Cloud seeding / Weather modification — directly funded under Mission's testbeds.
• PARAM Siddhi-AI / MoES HPC — computing substrate for NWP.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Ministry confusion: It is MoES, not MoEFCC or MHA.
• Outlay year vs duration: ₹2,000 cr is for two years (2024-26), not annual.
• Cabinet date: 11 Sep 2024 — often confused with the World Meteorological Day or Monsoon Mission dates.
• Confusing with Monsoon Mission: Monsoon Mission (2012) focused on seasonal/extended-range prediction models; Mission Mausam covers full-spectrum observation + NWP + weather modification.
• Number of nodal institutes: Three (IMD, IITM, NCMRWF) — INCOIS and NCPOR are MoES bodies but not primary implementers of Mission Mausam.

11. Sources

• [S1] Cabinet approves 'Mission Mausam' — ₹2,000 crore — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2053896 — (tier 1)
• [S2] Mission Mausam Unveiled: A 2,000 Crore initiative — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2054427 — (tier 1)
• [S3] MoES Booklet — Mission Mausam: Enhancing Weather and Climate Services — https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2024/dec/doc20241223476001.pdf — (tier 1)
• [S4] Parliament Question: Expansion of Weather Radars Network under Mission Mausam — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2083271 — (tier 1)
• [S5] Parliament Question: Mission Mausam (11 Mar 2026) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2238025 — (tier 1)