·PIB

PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Automatic Weather Stations

In this note
  1. At a Glance
  2. Why in the News
  3. Background & Evolution
  4. Core Static Facts
  5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis
  6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)
  7. Prelims Hooks
  8. Mains Relevance
  9. Related Topics to Study Next
  10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

1. At a Glance

  • AWS are unmanned, sensor-based surface observatories that auto-transmit weather parameters (temp, RH, rainfall, wind, pressure) at sub-hourly intervals to IMD servers [1][3].
  • India operates 1,008 AWS under IMD; ~200 more (chiefly Agro-AWS) planned in 2026 under Mission Mausam Phase-II [1].
  • High-yield UPSC overlap: Mission Mausam, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), disaster management, agro-advisories, climate-resilience.

2. Why in the News

  • 18 March 2026 Lok Sabha reply by MoES: Government to install ~200 AWS (primarily Agro-AWS) in 2026 under Mission Mausam Phase-II to bolster agromet advisories [1].
  • Earlier (2026), Dr. Jitendra Singh announced 50 AWS each in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Pune for hyper-local urban nowcasting [2].

3. Background & Evolution

  • IMD established 1875; AWS deployment scaled up in the 2000s to densify the surface network.
  • Mission Mausam approved by Union Cabinet on 11 September 2024; outlay ₹2,000 crore over two years [3][4].
  • Phase-I focused on densifying observation (DWRs, AWS, radiosondes); Phase-II (2026) pivots to Agro-AWS for the farm sector [1][4].

4. Core Static Facts

  • Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) — not MoEFCC, not Ministry of Agriculture [3].
  • Lead agencies: IMD, IITM Pune, NCMRWF Noida [4].
  • Existing AWS network: 1,008 operated by IMD [1]; supplemented by State Governments, energy sector, CWC real-time data [1].
  • Mission Mausam outlay: ₹2,000 cr / 2 years [3].
  • Phase-II AWS target (2026): ~200, primarily Agro-AWS [1].
  • Mission Mausam infra targets: 50 Doppler Weather Radars (DWR), 60 Radiosonde/Radiowind stations, 100 disdrometers, 10 wind profilers, 25 radiometers, 1 urban testbed, 1 process testbed, 1 ocean research station, 10 Marine AWS [4].
  • Urban AWS push: 50 AWS each in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Pune announced 2026 [2].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

  • Scientific/Technological: Agro-AWS deliver micro-climatic, sub-district data feeding Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) advisories; IMD also piloting a 3-D printed AWS [2].
  • Economic/Agricultural: Block-level forecasting reduces crop loss, optimises sowing/irrigation/pesticide timing — direct input to PMFBY loss assessment.
  • Administrative: Multi-agency data fusion — IMD + State Govts + CWC + energy sector — typifies cooperative federalism in observation infra [1].
  • Environmental/Climate: Densified surface network underpins extreme-weather nowcasting (cloudbursts, heatwaves) critical to NAPCC adaptation goals.
  • Strategic: Mission Mausam positions India among states with global-best forecasting; supports defence, aviation, shipping [4].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

  • 11 Sep 2024: Cabinet approves Mission Mausam, ₹2,000 cr [3].
  • 14 Jan 2025: PM launches Mission Mausam, releases IMD Vision-2047 at IMD's 150th-year event [search S5].
  • 2026: Announcement of 50 AWS each for four metros (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Pune) [2].
  • 18 Mar 2026: Parliament reply confirming ~200 Agro-AWS for 2026 under Phase-II [1].

7. Prelims Hooks

  • IMD currently operates 1,008 AWS [1].
  • Mission Mausam approved on 11 September 2024 by the Union Cabinet [3].
  • Mission Mausam outlay: ₹2,000 crore for 2 years [3].
  • Nodal ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences [3].
  • Three implementing institutes: IMD, IITM (Pune), NCMRWF (Noida) [4].
  • Mission Mausam targets 50 DWRs and 10 Marine AWS with upper-air capability [4].
  • 2026 expansion: 200 AWS, mostly Agro-AWS, in Phase-II [1].
  • Urban metro plan: 50 AWS each in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Pune [2].
  • IMD also draws AWS data from State Govts, energy sector, Central Water Commission [1].
  • IMD was set up in 1875; commemorated 150 years in January 2025.
  • IMD has also inaugurated a 3-D Printed AWS and Agro-AWS prototype [2].
  • Mission Mausam complements IMD Vision-2047 released in Jan 2025.

8. Mains Relevance

  • GS-III — Science & Tech (indigenous tech, IT); Disaster Management; Agriculture (technology missions).
  • GS-II — Government policies & welfare schemes (Mission Mausam delivery).
  • Possible stems:
  • "Evaluate the role of dense observational networks like AWS in making Indian agriculture climate-resilient."
  • "Discuss the objectives of Mission Mausam. How does it integrate with India's disaster-preparedness architecture?"
  • "Hyper-local weather forecasting is a public good. Examine in the Indian context."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

  • Mission Mausam — parent scheme.
  • IMD Vision-2047 — long-term roadmap that frames AWS expansion.
  • Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) network — complementary observation infra.
  • Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) — end-user agromet advisory consuming AWS data.
  • PMFBY — uses weather data for crop-loss assessment.
  • NCMRWF & IITM Pune — modelling institutes under MoES.
  • NDMA / SDRFs — downstream users for early warning.
  • NAPCC & State Action Plans on Climate Change — adaptation linkage.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

  • AWS network is under MoES/IMD, not Ministry of Agriculture or MoEFCC.
  • Mission Mausam outlay is ₹2,000 cr over 2 years — not ₹2,000 cr/year.
  • Mission Mausam approval year is 2024 (PM launch Jan 2025) — don't conflate.
  • Agro-AWS ≠ ordinary AWS: Phase-II 2026 expansion is primarily Agro-AWS.
  • CWC contributes data but is under Jal Shakti, not MoES.

Sources

  1. 1PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Automatic Weather Stations, PIB, 18 Mar 2026pib.gov.in · tier 1
  2. 2Major Expansion of Automatic Weather Stations (Delhi/Mumbai/Chennai/Pune), PIBpib.gov.in · tier 1
  3. 3Cabinet approves 'Mission Mausam', PIBpib.gov.in · tier 1
  4. 4Mission Mausam Unveiled: ₹2,000 Cr Initiative, PIBpib.gov.in · tier 1
  5. 5PM launches Mission Mausam, releases IMD Vision-2047, PIBpib.gov.in · tier 1

Also on 18 March

All 18 March articles →