PARLIAMENT QUESTION: STUDIES TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS
1. At a Glance
- Lok Sabha Unstarred Question answered by Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) on 11 Feb 2026, listing GoI's instruments for studying extreme weather impacts [S1][S2].
- Three institutional anchors: MoES (policy/funding), IITM-Pune/CCCR (climate assessment), IMD (operational meteorology + hazard atlas) [S2][S3].
- Significant for GS-I (geography of climatic events), GS-III (disaster management, environment, S&T) and for Prelims facts on agencies, reports and Mission Mausam.
2. Why in the News
- MoES tabled the reply (PRID 2226185, 11 Feb 2026) in Parliament reiterating its extreme-weather research architecture — the "Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region" report and IMD's Climate Hazard & Vulnerability Atlas [S1][S2].
- Comes alongside the rollout of Mission Mausam (Cabinet approval 11 Sep 2024) to make India "Weather Ready, Climate Smart" [S4].
3. Background & Evolution
- 2012: MoES set up Centre for Climate Change Research (CCCR) at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune [S2].
- 2020: MoES released Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region (Springer, ISBN-linked at link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-15-4327-2) — India's first national climate-change assessment [S1][S2].
- IMD Climate Hazard & Vulnerability Atlas built from IMD's Annual Disastrous Weather Reports, hosted at imdpune.gov.in/hazardatlas [S1][S3].
- Sep 2024: Union Cabinet approved Mission Mausam — ₹2,000 crore over 2 years — to upgrade observation, modelling and forecasting at MoES bodies (IMD, IITM, INCOIS, NCMRWF) [S4].
4. Core Static Facts
- Implementing ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) — NOT MoEFCC [S1].
- Nodal research body: CCCR at IITM, Pune (under MoES) [S2].
- Operational agency: India Meteorological Department (IMD), HQ New Delhi; Atlas hosted on IMD-Pune server [S1][S3].
- Key report: Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region (Springer, 2020) [S1].
- Atlas coverage: 13 hazardous meteorological events (incl. heatwave, cold wave, cyclone, thunderstorm, hailstorm, dust storm, fog, snowfall, lightning, heavy rainfall, drought, flood, etc.) [S1][S3].
- Atlas tech: GIS-based, web platform [S1].
- Mission Mausam outlay: ₹2,000 crore, 2 years, approved 11 Sep 2024 [S4].
Key findings cited in the Assessment report
- Surface air temperature over India ↑ ~0.7 °C (1901–2018) [S2].
- Tropical Indian Ocean SST ↑ ~1 °C (1951–2015) [S2].
- Rising frequency of localized heavy rainfall, droughts, floods; intensification of tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea [S2].
5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis
- Scientific/Technological: GIS-based web atlas; coupled-model projections by IITM-CCCR; Mission Mausam adds high-resolution AI/ML modelling, supercomputing, radars and radiosondes [S2][S4].
- Administrative: Multi-agency (MoES → IMD/IITM/INCOIS/NCMRWF); inter-ministerial linkage with NDMA for Heat Action Plans across 23 states [S5].
- Environmental: Documents anthropogenic GHG + aerosol forcing, land-use change as drivers of Indian climate extremes [S2].
- Social/Disaster: Atlas's 13-hazard mapping feeds vulnerability assessments crucial for SDMAs and farmer/fisher advisories [S1][S3].
- Economic: Underpins crop-insurance (PMFBY), agromet advisories and early-warning that reduce disaster losses; Mission Mausam ₹2,000 cr is the fiscal lever [S4].
6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)
- 11 Sep 2024: Cabinet approves Mission Mausam (₹2,000 cr) [S4].
- 11 Feb 2026: MoES tables Parliament reply on extreme-weather studies (the source release) [S1].
- Mar 2026: MoES tables related PQ on "Studies for Climate Change" reaffirming CCCR/IITM role [S2].
- Continuous updating of IMD Hazard Atlas and Annual Disastrous Weather Reports [S3].
7. Prelims Hooks
- Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region — published by MoES, led by CCCR-IITM Pune, 2020 [S1][S2].
- IMD's Climate Hazard & Vulnerability Atlas covers 13 hazardous meteorological events [S1].
- Atlas uses GIS and is hosted at imdpune.gov.in/hazardatlas [S1].
- Surface air temperature over India rose ~0.7 °C between 1901 and 2018 [S2].
- Tropical Indian Ocean SST rose ~1 °C between 1951 and 2015 [S2].
- Mission Mausam approved 11 Sept 2024, outlay ₹2,000 crore, duration 2 years [S4].
- Mission Mausam executing bodies: IMD, IITM-Pune, INCOIS (all under MoES) [S4].
- NDMA + IMD working with 23 states on Heat Action Plans [S5].
- Nodal ministry for climate science assessment in India: Ministry of Earth Sciences (NOT MoEFCC, which is UNFCCC focal point) [S1].
- Atlas vulnerability maps derived from IMD's Annual Disastrous Weather Reports [S3].
8. Mains Relevance
- GS-I: Geography → Climatology — changes in monsoon, cyclones, heatwaves over India.
- GS-III: Environment & Disaster Management; Science & Tech (modelling/forecasting).
- Likely question stems: 1. "Assess the institutional architecture in India for studying and forecasting extreme weather events. How does Mission Mausam advance this agenda?" (GS-III) 2. "Discuss the key findings of MoES's Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region and their implications for adaptation policy." (GS-III) 3. "Vulnerability mapping is a prerequisite for effective disaster risk reduction. Examine with reference to IMD's Climate Hazard & Vulnerability Atlas." (GS-III)
9. Related Topics to Study Next
- Mission Mausam — flagship scheme operationalising the same agenda [S4].
- IPCC AR6 & India-specific findings — global benchmark for the MoES report.
- National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) & 8 Missions — policy umbrella under MoEFCC.
- NDMA Heat Action Plans — downstream use of hazard atlas [S5].
- PMFBY / Agromet Advisory Services — economic application.
- INCOIS Tsunami & Storm Surge Early Warning — sister system under MoES.
- Indian Ocean Warming & Arabian Sea cyclones — physical-science angle [S2].
- UNFCCC / India's NDC & LT-LEDS — international linkage.
10. Common Errors / Trap Areas
- Wrong ministry: Assessment report is by MoES, not MoEFCC. MoEFCC handles UNFCCC negotiations.
- Wrong institute: Lead institute is IITM Pune (CCCR), not IISc or NCMRWF.
- Atlas hazard count: It covers 13 meteorological hazards, not all natural hazards (earthquakes/landslides excluded).
- Mission Mausam outlay: ₹2,000 crore over 2 years — often misquoted as a 5-year scheme.
- Confusing publisher: Although tabled by MoES, the report is published commercially by Springer (2020) — both are correct.
11. Sources
- [S1] PIB — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Studies to Assess the Impact of Extreme Weather Conditions (MoES, 11 Feb 2026) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2226185 — (tier 1)
- [S2] MoES — Parliament Question: Studies for Climate Change (Mar 2026 PDF) — https://www.moes.gov.in/static/uploads/2026/03/9e3cf992faa56828931f51dad9218fe6.pdf — (tier 1)
- [S3] PIB — Assessment of Climate Change over Indian Region (PRID 1706938) — https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1706938 — (tier 1)
- [S4] PIB — Mission Mausam Unveiled: ₹2,000 cr initiative (PRID 2054427) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2054427 — (tier 1)
- [S5] PIB — NDMA & IMD working with 23 States on Heat Action Plans (PRID 1885718) — https://www.pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1885718 — (tier 1)
