India Meteorological Department at 151
IMD and Mission Mausam: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) marked its 151st Foundation Day with the deployment of 200 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) across four major metropolitan cities.
This expansion strengthens India’s urban weather monitoring capacity and improves real-time data collection.
The initiative directly aligns with Mission Mausam, which focuses on strengthening weather and climate-related services across the country.
Urban centres are prioritised due to their vulnerability to extreme rainfall, heatwaves, and cyclonic impacts.
Static GK fact: IMD is one of the oldest scientific departments of the Government of India, established during the colonial period.
Genesis and Institutional Framework of IMD
IMD was established in 1875 as India’s National Meteorological Service.
It functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, with its headquarters located in New Delhi.
The primary mandate of IMD is to observe, forecast, and warn against severe weather phenomena.
Its advisories support sectors such as agriculture, aviation, shipping, disaster management, and water resources.
Static GK Tip: IMD issues colour-coded alerts such as Yellow, Orange, and Red to indicate increasing levels of weather risk.
Mandate and Core Responsibilities
IMD plays a critical role in early warning systems for cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and cold waves.
These warnings enable governments to undertake timely evacuation and disaster preparedness measures.
The department also maintains long-term climatological records, which are essential for climate trend analysis.
Such data supports policymaking related to climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Static GK fact: IMD is the official authority for declaring onset and withdrawal of the southwest monsoon in India.
Mission Mausam and Its Objectives
Mission Mausam is a multi-faceted national initiative aimed at enhancing India’s weather and climate science ecosystem.
It seeks to improve forecast accuracy, climate modelling, and impact-based weather services.
The mission emphasises the integration of advanced observation systems, high-performance computing, and research outputs.
This approach strengthens both short-term weather prediction and long-term climate resilience.
Static GK Tip: Impact-based forecasting focuses on expected damage and risk, not just meteorological parameters.
Implementation Architecture of Mission Mausam
Mission Mausam is implemented jointly by IMD, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, and the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting, Noida.
Each institution contributes specialised expertise in observation, modelling, and prediction.
The deployment of AWS under IMD enhances hyper-local forecasting, especially in dense urban landscapes.
This is crucial for managing urban floods, heat stress, and infrastructure disruptions.
Static GK fact: Automatic Weather Stations record parameters such as temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed, and pressure without human intervention.
Strategic Significance
The IMD–Mission Mausam linkage reflects India’s shift towards science-driven disaster risk reduction.
Enhanced observation networks directly support urban resilience and climate preparedness.
This initiative also aligns with India’s broader goals of climate-informed governance and sustainable development planning.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
IMD and Mission Mausam:
| Topic | Detail |
| IMD Foundation | Established in 1875 |
| Administrative Ministry | Ministry of Earth Sciences |
| IMD Headquarters | New Delhi |
| Core Function | Weather forecasting and severe weather warnings |
| Foundation Day Initiative | Deployment of 200 Automatic Weather Stations |
| Mission Mausam Objective | Strengthen weather and climate science services |
| Key Implementing Agencies | IMD, IITM Pune, NCMRWF Noida |
| Technological Focus | Advanced observation and forecasting systems |
| Urban Relevance | Hyper-local weather prediction |
| National Importance | Disaster risk reduction and climate resilience |
