PARLIAMENT QUESTION: INSTALLATION OF WEATHER STATIONS

1. At a Glance

• Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha reply by Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) (12 Feb 2026) on expansion of India's weather observation network — Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs) and Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) by India Meteorological Department (IMD) [1].
• Sits at the intersection of disaster management (GS-III), science & tech infrastructure, and the flagship Mission Mausam initiative.
• Aspirants must know exact numbers (48 DWRs, 200 AWS in last year), nodal ministry, radar bands, and the ₹2,000 cr Mission Mausam framework [1][2].

2. Why in the News

• 12 Feb 2026 Parliament Question reply: in the last one year IMD installed 3 new DWRs (C-band at Raipur, Mangaluru; X-band at Jorhat, Assam) and 200 AWS across India [1].
• Forms part of ongoing rollout of Mission Mausam (approved by Union Cabinet 11 Sept 2024) [2].

3. Background & Evolution

• IMD founded 1875; nodal weather agency under MoES (MoES carved out 2006) [1].
• DWR network grew from 14 (2014) → 48 (Feb 2026); Mission Mausam targets 126 DWRs by 2026 [1][2].
• Mission Mausam: Cabinet-approved 11 Sept 2024, outlay ₹2,000 crore for 2024–26, implemented by IMD + NCMRWF + IITM [2].

4. Core Static Facts

• Ministry / Department: Ministry of Earth Sciences; agency: India Meteorological Department [1].
• Current DWR network: 48 DWRs covering ~92% of India's geographical area [1].
• Gaps: coastal, hilly, island regions [1].
• Western Himalayan DWRs (10): Leh, Banihal Top, Jammu, Srinagar, Lansdowne, Mukteshwar, Surkanda Devi, Jot, Murari Devi, Kufri [1].
• Eastern Himalayan DWRs: Mohanbari, Cherrapunji, Agartala, Jorhat [1].
• Recent additions (1 year): C-band DWRs at Raipur, Mangaluru; X-band DWR at Jorhat; 200 AWS [1].
• Mission Mausam outlay: ₹2,000 crore (2024–26); targets — 50 DWRs, 60 Radio Sonde/Radio Wind stations, 100 disdrometers, 10 Wind Profilers, 25 radiometers, 1 Urban testbed, 1 Ocean Research station, 10 Marine AWS [2].
• Implementing institutes: IMD, NCMRWF (National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting), IITM Pune [2].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Scientific / Technological

• DWR uses Doppler effect to measure precipitation intensity, wind velocity, storm rotation; bands used in India — S-band (long-range, cyclones), C-band (mid-range), X-band (short-range, hilly terrain) [1].
• X-band suited to mountainous Jorhat due to lighter, terrain-friendly footprint [1].

Administrative / Federal

• Pan-India installation handled centrally by IMD; states integrate forecasts into SDMA alerts.
• Gaps in coastal, hilly, island zones reveal terrain-implementation bottlenecks [1].

Environmental / Disaster Management

• Network underpins early warning for cyclones, cloudbursts, flash floods, GLOFs in Himalayas — critical post-Wayanad (2024) and Sikkim GLOF (2023) events.
• Supports NDMA and SDRF/NDRF response timing.

Geopolitical / Strategic

• Himalayan DWRs (Leh, Banihal, Srinagar) double up for border-area weather intelligence along LAC/LoC [1].

Economic

• Improved nowcasting protects agriculture (PMFBY), aviation, fisheries, power grid — sectors with high weather-risk exposure.

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 11 Sept 2024: Cabinet approves Mission Mausam, ₹2,000 cr [2].
• 2025: Two new C-band DWRs inaugurated (Raipur, Mangaluru) [1].
• 2025: X-band DWR at Jorhat operationalised [1].
• Last 1 year (to Feb 2026): 200 AWS added nationwide [1].
• Feb 2026: Parliament reply confirms 48 DWRs, 92% area coverage [1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Nodal ministry for IMD = Ministry of Earth Sciences (NOT MoEFCC, NOT Ministry of Science & Technology) [1].
• Mission Mausam outlay = ₹2,000 crore, period 2024–26 [2].
• Three implementing institutes of Mission Mausam: IMD, NCMRWF, IITM [2].
• Current DWR count (Feb 2026): 48, covering ~92% of India [1].
• 3 DWRs added in last year: Raipur (C), Mangaluru (C), Jorhat (X) [1].
• 200 AWS installed in last 1 year [1].
• 10 DWRs in Western Himalayan Region [1].
• Bands: S, C, X — X-band preferred for hilly terrain [1].
• Mission Mausam approved by Union Cabinet on 11 September 2024 [2].
• Targets under Mission Mausam: 10 Marine AWS, 60 RS/RW stations, 100 disdrometers [2].
• Eastern Himalayan DWRs include Cherrapunji and Mohanbari [1].
• DWR gaps remain in coastal, hilly, island regions [1].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III — Disaster Management; Science & Tech (indigenous capability); Infrastructure.
• GS-II — Government policies/intervention for sectoral development (agri, aviation).
• Plausible stems: 1. "Discuss the role of expanded Doppler radar networks under Mission Mausam in strengthening India's disaster early-warning architecture." (GS-III) 2. "Despite 92% area coverage by DWRs, India remains vulnerable to localised extreme weather. Examine the gaps and the way forward." (GS-III) 3. "Evaluate Mission Mausam as a model of mission-mode delivery in the Earth Sciences sector." (GS-II/III)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Mission Mausam — parent umbrella initiative [2].
• IMD Vision 2047 — long-term forecasting roadmap.
• NDMA & CDRI — disaster response linkage.
• INSAT-3DS / Oceansat — satellite leg of weather observation (ISRO).
• NCMRWF & IITM Pune — modelling backbone of Mission Mausam [2].
• PMFBY — crop insurance reliant on weather data.
• Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) — Himalayan radar use-case.
• Cyclone Warning System — S-band DWR application.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Wrong ministry: IMD is under MoES, not MoEFCC or M/o S&T.
• Confusing Mission Mausam (₹2,000 cr, MoES, 2024) with Monsoon Mission (older IITM programme).
• Misreading coverage: 92% of area, not 92% of districts [1].
• Mixing bands: X-band = hills, S-band = cyclones; Mangaluru/Raipur are C-band [1].
• Assuming Mission Mausam targets only DWRs — it also includes disdrometers, wind profilers, marine AWS, urban testbed [2].