Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh, visited the India Meteorological Department (IMD) today to review the indigenous Multi-Hazard Early Warning Decision Support System (DSS). This system has resulted in significant cost savings of ₹250 crore.
Dr. Singh commended IMD for its innovative efforts in creating a self-reliant, technology-driven, and citizen-centric platform that enhances disaster preparedness and public safety across India. The DSS’s cost efficiency has not only eliminated the dependency on foreign vendors but also saved an additional ₹5.5 crore in annual maintenance costs, in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
During the visit, the Minister reviewed the “Mausamgram” initiative, designed to provide hyperlocal weather forecasts at the village level. This platform offers hourly forecasts for 36 hours, three-hourly forecasts for five days, and six-hourly forecasts for up to ten days. Users can easily access forecasts by using their PIN code, location name, or through a selection of state, district, block, and gram panchayat. “Mausamgram” is also available in all official Indian languages, ensuring accessibility for every citizen.
IMD has significantly modernized its forecasting and alert generation processes, extending the lead time from five to seven days. This improvement cuts down forecast preparation time by three hours and increases accuracy by 15-20%.
In discussions with IMD officials, Dr. Singh stressed the need to incorporate AI-based tools into “Mausamgram” to enhance interactivity and user-friendliness. He urged the department to upgrade the Multi-Hazard Early Warning System to ensure clear and actionable alerts for effective and timely disaster responses.
The Minister congratulated the IMD team for winning the National Award for e-Governance 2025 at the 28th National Conference on e-Governance held in Visakhapatnam, a significant recognition of IMD’s excellence in digital public service delivery via the DSS system.
Additionally, Dr. Singh lauded the IMD’s achievements under the Special Swachhata Program, which has generated ₹30 lakh from the disposal of e-waste and old files, while also clearing up 600 square meters of space. At IMD’s headquarters, “Mausam Bhavan”, he participated in the “Special Swachhata Program 5.0”, where he planted a sapling under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign and recognized 50 “Safai Mitras” for their contributions.
Looking towards the future, Dr. Singh highlighted the Mission Mausam, which aims to install advanced meteorological instruments by 2030. This initiative will enhance IMD’s forecasting capabilities, facilitating 5×5 km-scale hazard forecasting, dynamic impact-based forecasting, and risk-based early warnings. The vision aims for last-mile connectivity to ensure that early warnings reach every household, fulfilling the mission of “Har Har Mausam, Har Ghar Mausam.”