India Unveils New Climate and Weather Tools

India is building a climate-resilient and technologically empowered future through innovative scientific tools, real-time services, and citizen-centric digital solutions, showcased on the 19th Foundation Day of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

Highlights:

• Dr. Jitendra Singh launches 14 major science and tech services at MoES event.
• Tools include Bharat Forecast System, crop-weather calendars, seismic microzonation studies, and marine biodiversity reports.
• Real-time public services: Weather alerts, air quality updates, and cyclone warnings now on mobile devices.
• Ministry’s tech infrastructure (weather radars, seismic stations) sees a 2x–3x increase in 10 years.
• Over 7 lakh farmers use Meghdoot app; daily advisories help fishing communities across India.
• Ocean Thermal Energy plants now supply 1.5 lakh litres of potable water in Lakshadweep.
• Deep Ocean Mission and Samudrayaan could unlock India’s underwater economic potential.

In a landmark move to strengthen India’s climate resilience and empower citizens with science-backed services, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh unveiled a suite of new scientific tools and digital services developed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) on its 19th Foundation Day. The celebration, held in New Delhi, was a testimony to how science is now embedded in daily life—from weather alerts to water security.

Dr. Singh lauded the transformation of MoES over the past decade, calling it a shift from a behind-the-scenes department to a citizen-facing institution. “The last ten years have seen the Ministry become more visible and impactful in real-time. Today, even a casual user can access cyclone warnings, air quality indices, and ocean forecasts at their fingertips,” he stated.

The Minister launched 14 key products and initiatives, such as the Bharat Forecast System – Extended Range Prediction (BharatFS-ERP), detailed rainfall datasets, crop-weather and rainfall calendars, updated wave atlases, air quality forecast tools, marine biodiversity reports, and seismic microzonation studies for four major Indian cities.

A documentary titled “Life Saving Impact” by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) was also released, showcasing the life-enhancing power of modern forecasting systems.

Dr. Singh highlighted the dramatic expansion in scientific infrastructure:

• Doppler weather radars rose from 15 to 41.
• Lightning detection systems, seismic stations, and rain gauges have more than doubled.
• Earthquake alerts now reach lakhs within minutes, though the rising demand once caused IMD servers to crash during a Delhi tremor.

Praising the IMD’s accuracy, Dr. Singh noted that cyclone alerts now come with a 10-day lead time, a massive leap from the 1999 Odisha super cyclone that claimed 10,000 lives. “Timely alerts today have saved countless lives,” he said.

The Ministry’s contributions to agriculture and fisheries earned special praise. More than 7 lakh farmers now rely on the Meghdoot app for timely weather advisories, while coastal fishermen benefit from daily SMS alerts guiding them to safe and fuel-efficient fishing zones.

On the sustainability front, he spoke of India’s efforts in ocean-based innovation. In Lakshadweep, six Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plants now provide 1.5 lakh litres of clean water daily, ending centuries of water scarcity on the islands.

The Minister also positioned the Deep Ocean Mission as a national priority. “Just as we aim to send an Indian into space through Gaganyaan, we are preparing to send one 6 km below the sea via Samudrayaan. One up, one down—that’s our vision,” he declared.

The Ministry’s growing influence is backed by rising investments, with its budget increasing from ₹1,281 crore in 2014 to ₹3,658 crore in 2024. Dr. Singh credited this growth to consistent government support and urged scientists to enhance outreach and public awareness. “We must communicate our work in a language people understand,” he said, calling for inter-ministerial collaboration and wider dissemination through government platforms.

The event was graced by senior officials, including MoES Secretary Dr. M. Ravichandran, IMD DG Dr. Mrutyunjay Mahapatra, and Guest of Honour Prof. Dev Niyogi, UNESCO Chair at the University of Texas.