PARLIAMENT QUESTION: STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF MISSION MAUSAM

1. At a Glance

• Mission Mausam is a Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) flagship to make India "weather-ready and climate-smart" through next-gen forecasting, observation, modelling and AI/ML services [S1][S2].
• Cabinet-approved outlay of ₹2,000 crore over two years (FY 2024-25 & 2025-26) with implementation phased till 2031 [S2][S4].
• UPSC relevance: tests GS-III (S&T, disaster management) overlap with climate adaptation, SDG-13, and India's "Vishwa Bandhu" weather diplomacy.

2. Why in the News

• Parliament Question reply (12 March 2026) by Ministry of Earth Sciences in Lok Sabha detailing status of implementation — confirmed commissioning of HPC systems and quantified forecast-accuracy gains [S1].
• PM-inaugurated HPC systems ARKA & ARUNIKA on 26 Sept 2024; mission formally launched by PM on 14 Jan 2025 (IMD's 150th Foundation Day) [S1][S5].

3. Background & Evolution

• 11 Sept 2024 — Union Cabinet approves Mission Mausam, outlay ₹2,000 cr / 2 yrs [S2].
• 26 Sept 2024 — PM inaugurates HPC systems "ARKA" at IITM Pune and "ARUNIKA" at NCMRWF Noida [S1].
• 14 Jan 2025 — PM launches Mission Mausam & releases IMD Vision-2047 at IMD's sesquicentennial [S5].
• 12 Mar 2026 — Implementation status placed before Parliament [S1].
• Predecessor / parallel: Monsoon Mission (2012), High Performance Computing System (HPCS) Pratyush & Mihir (2018), IMD Modernisation Phase-III.

4. Core Static Facts

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) — NOT MoEFCC [S2].
• Lead implementing institutes (3): India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM, Pune), National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF, Noida) [S2].
• Outlay: ₹2,000 crore over two years (Phase-I FY25 & FY26); phased rollout up to 2031 [S2][S4].
• HPC capacity post-commissioning: ARKA — 11.77 petaflops (IITM Pune); ARUNIKA — 8.24 petaflops (NCMRWF Noida); dedicated AI/ML system — 1.9 petaflops; total MoES HPC = 21.91 petaflops [S1].
• Beneficiary sectors: agriculture, disaster management, defence, aviation, water resources, power, tourism, shipping, transport, energy, health [S2].
• Key planned assets: expansion of Doppler Weather Radar network, wind profilers, radiosondes, ocean buoys, high-altitude balloons, mesonet observatories, urban testbeds, Cloud Chamber at IITM Pune (weather modification R&D) [S4].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Scientific / Technological - Quantum jump in compute (≈3× over Pratyush+Mihir's 6.8 PF) enables higher-resolution global & regional models, ensemble forecasting, and AI/ML nowcasting [S1]. - IMD reports 30-40% improvement in severe-weather forecast accuracy over the past decade; significant leap in tropical cyclone track/intensity forecast in 2021-25 vs 2016-20 [S1][S3].

Administrative - Three-institute consortium model (IMD-IITM-NCMRWF) under single mission to avoid silos; phased till 2031 with annual milestones [S1][S2].

Environmental / Disaster Management - Directly feeds NDMA's CAP (Common Alerting Protocol) early-warning ecosystem; supports India's commitment to UN "Early Warnings for All" by 2027 [S2].

Economic - Weather-sensitive sectors (agri, power, aviation, shipping) account for >50% of GDP; finer panchayat-level forecasts cut crop losses & power-grid risk [S2].

Geopolitical / Strategic - Mission supports India's role as regional weather services provider under WMO for South Asia & IOR; bolsters "Vishwa Bandhu" climate diplomacy.

6. Recent Developments (12-18 months)

• 11 Sept 2024 — Cabinet approval [S2].
• 26 Sept 2024 — ARKA & ARUNIKA HPC commissioned by PM [S1].
• 14 Jan 2025 — Mission Mausam formally launched on IMD's 150th Foundation Day; IMD Vision-2047 released [S5].
• 12 Mar 2026 — Lok Sabha Q&A: HPC operational, cyclone forecast skill improved 2021-25 vs 2016-20 [S1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Mission Mausam approved by Union Cabinet on 11 September 2024 [S2].
• Total outlay: ₹2,000 crore over 2 years [S2].
• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (not MoEFCC, not MoST) [S2].
• Three implementing institutes: IMD, IITM-Pune, NCMRWF-Noida [S2].
• HPC "ARKA" sits at IITM Pune (11.77 PF); "ARUNIKA" at NCMRWF Noida (8.24 PF) [S1].
• Dedicated AI/ML HPC = 1.9 petaflops; total MoES compute = 21.91 petaflops [S1].
• HPC inaugurated on 26 September 2024 by PM (video-conferencing) [S1].
• Mission launched alongside IMD Vision-2047 on 14 January 2025 (IMD's 150th year) [S5].
• Severe-weather forecast accuracy improved 30-40% over past decade [S3].
• Cloud Chamber for weather modification research is being set up at IITM Pune [S4].
• Implementation phased till 2031 [S3].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: "Science & Technology — indigenization & developments"; "Disaster management"; "Climate change."
• GS-II: "Government policies/interventions" (welfare via early-warning).
• Likely stems: 1. "Mission Mausam marks a paradigm shift from forecasting to weather management. Discuss its components and challenges." (15M) 2. "Examine the role of high-performance computing and AI/ML in transforming India's weather services." (10M) 3. "How does Mission Mausam strengthen India's disaster-preparedness architecture in the context of the UN 'Early Warnings for All' initiative?" (15M)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Monsoon Mission — predecessor seasonal-prediction programme by MoES.
• IMD Vision-2047 — long-term roadmap released alongside.
• Pratyush & Mihir supercomputers — earlier MoES HPC baseline.
• PARAM Rudra / National Supercomputing Mission (MeitY-DST) — parallel HPC push [S6].
• NDMA & CAP-based early warning — downstream consumer.
• Cyclone Mocha/Biparjoy/Remal forecasting case studies — to illustrate accuracy gains.
• WMO & "Early Warnings for All" 2027 — global frame.
• Cloud seeding / weather modification ethics — links to Cloud Chamber R&D.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Wrong ministry: it is MoES, not MoEFCC or DST.
• Wrong outlay period: ₹2,000 cr is for 2 years, not 5; total mission phased till 2031.
• Mixing HPCs: ARKA is at Pune (IITM), ARUNIKA at Noida (NCMRWF) — easy to swap.
• Confusing with Monsoon Mission or National Supercomputing Mission (PARAM Rudra) — different ministries (MoES vs MeitY/DST).
• Launch dates: Cabinet approval (11 Sept 2024) ≠ PM launch (14 Jan 2025) ≠ HPC inauguration (26 Sept 2024).

11. Sources

• [S1] PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Status of Implementation of Mission Mausam (12 Mar 2026) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2238776 — (tier 1)
• [S2] Cabinet approves 'Mission Mausam' — ₹2,000 cr — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2053896 — (tier 1)
• [S3] PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Implementation of Mission Mausam — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2238030 — (tier 1)
• [S4] Mission Mausam Unveiled: 2000 Crore Initiative — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2054427 — (tier 1)
• [S5] PM launches 'Mission Mausam', releases IMD Vision-2047 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2092716 — (tier 1)
• [S6] PM dedicates three PARAM Rudra Supercomputers — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2059176 — (tier 1)