11 March 2026·PIB

PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Mission Mausam

In this note

1. At a Glance

Mission Mausam is a Central Sector scheme of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) aimed at making India "weather-ready and climate-smart" through next-generation forecasting, observation and modelling infrastructure [1][3].
Approved by the Union Cabinet on 11 September 2024 with an outlay of ₹2,000 crore over two years (2024-26) [1][2].
Relevant to UPSC for Disaster Management (GS-III), S&T (GS-III), and Governance (GS-II) dimensions — converges climate adaptation, NWP modelling and early warning architecture.

March 2026 Parliament Question (Rajya/Lok Sabha) by MoES updated implementation status — strengthening of IMD, IITM Pune, NCMRWF observation, NWP and HPC capacity [5].
Earlier 2025 Parliament replies detailed expansion of Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) network and procurement progress under the Mission [4].

Announced by MoES in 2024; Cabinet nod on 11 Sep 2024 [1].
Builds on prior MoES programmes: Monsoon Mission (launched 2012), High Performance Computing (HPC) initiative, and IMD's 150-year modernisation track (IMD founded 1875) [2].
Operational rollout phase FY 2024-25 to 2025-26; review for extension thereafter [2].

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) — not MoEFCC, not MHA [1][5].
Implementing institutes (3):
India Meteorological Department (IMD) — observations, warnings [5].
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune — research, NWP modelling, weather modification [5].
National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), Noida — medium-range NWP models [5].
Outlay: ₹2,000 crore (2024-26) [1].
Planned observation infrastructure targets [3]:
50 Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs)
60 Radiosonde/Radiowind (RS/RW) stations
100 Disdrometers
10 Wind Profilers
25 Radiometers
1 Urban Testbed + 1 Process Testbed
1 Ocean Research Station; 10 Marine Automatic Weather Stations
Type: Central Sector Scheme (100% Union funded) [1].

Scientific / Technological

Strengthens Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models and High-Performance Computing (HPC) capacity at NCMRWF and IITM [5].
Adds dual-polarimetric DWRs, wind profilers, radiometers for 3-D atmospheric profiling [3].
Includes weather modification R&D — cloud seeding for fog/hail/rain management via IITM testbeds [2].

Administrative / Governance

Single-mission convergence of IMD-IITM-NCMRWF avoids fragmented procurement; mission-mode delivery in 2 years [1][5].
Targets panchayat-level localised forecasts — feeds into Agri-DSS, Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa [2].

Disaster Management

Improves early warning lead-time for cyclones, heatwaves, cloudbursts, urban floods — supports NDMA/SDMA under DM Act, 2005.
Urban Testbed aimed at urban heat island and convective storm now-casting [3].

Economic

Reduces farm losses (monsoon dependence ~46% net-sown area unirrigated); precision forecasts for aviation, shipping, power, insurance (PMFBY) [2].

Environmental / Climate

Aligns with India's NDC adaptation pillar and NAPCC missions; supports air quality alerts (PM2.5 nowcasts) [1].

11 Sep 2024: Cabinet approval, ₹2,000 cr [1].
Sep 2024: Formal launch by MoES; Dr. Jitendra Singh statements on 2.6 lakh panchayat-level forecasts [2].
Dec 2024: MoES booklet "Mission Mausam — Enhancing Weather and Climate Services" released [3].
2025: Parliament replies on DWR expansion and radar tenders [4].
11 Mar 2026: Parliament Question reiterates progress on observation networks, NWP and HPC [5].

Mission Mausam was approved by Union Cabinet on 11 September 2024 [1].
Outlay: ₹2,000 crore over 2024-26 [1].
Implementing ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (NOT MoEFCC) [5].
Three nodal institutes: IMD, IITM (Pune), NCMRWF (Noida) [5].
Plans 50 new Doppler Weather Radars under the Mission [3].
Includes 10 Wind Profilers + 25 Radiometers + 100 Disdrometers [3].
Aims to set up 1 Urban Testbed and 1 Process Testbed for weather modification R&D [3].
Predecessor flagship: Monsoon Mission of MoES (launched 2012) [2].
IMD was founded in 1875 (commemorated 150 years in 2025) [2].
Tagline: "Weather-ready and Climate-smart Bharat" [1].
Targets forecasts down to panchayat level (~2.6 lakh GPs) [2].
Includes 1 Ocean Research Station + 10 Marine Automatic Weather Stations [3].

GS-III — Science & Technology: indigenisation; Disaster Management; Climate change adaptation.
GS-II — Government policies and interventions; Centre-State coordination on disaster response.
Probable question stems: 1. "Mission Mausam marks a transition from forecasting to weather management. Examine its components and implementation challenges." (GS-III, 15 marks) 2. "Discuss how Mission Mausam can strengthen India's early warning system in the context of increasing extreme weather events." (GS-III, 10 marks) 3. "Evaluate the role of Ministry of Earth Sciences in building India's climate resilience, with reference to Mission Mausam and the Monsoon Mission." (GS-II/III)

Monsoon Mission (2012) — direct predecessor at MoES.
IMD modernisation & Doppler Weather Radar network — hardware backbone.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) — consumer of early warnings.
Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) / SACHET system — last-mile warning dissemination.
Deep Ocean Mission — sibling MoES flagship.
NAPCC & State Action Plans on Climate Change — adaptation linkage.
Cloud seeding / Weather modification — directly funded under Mission's testbeds.
PARAM Siddhi-AI / MoES HPC — computing substrate for NWP.

Ministry confusion: It is MoES, not MoEFCC or MHA.
Outlay year vs duration: ₹2,000 cr is for two years (2024-26), not annual.
Cabinet date: 11 Sep 2024 — often confused with the World Meteorological Day or Monsoon Mission dates.
Confusing with Monsoon Mission: Monsoon Mission (2012) focused on seasonal/extended-range prediction models; Mission Mausam covers full-spectrum observation + NWP + weather modification.
Number of nodal institutes: Three (IMD, IITM, NCMRWF) — INCOIS and NCPOR are MoES bodies but not primary implementers of Mission Mausam.