Mission Mausam: Climate engineering for resilience
Info Nuggets
Moving beyond mere forecasting, India’s newest mission aims to proactively manage weather to safeguard agriculture and disaster-prone zones
The concept
Launched in September 2024 with an outlay of ₹2,000 crore, Mission Mausam is a transformative initiative by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Its primary goal is to make India “Weather-ready and Climate-smart” by 2026. Unlike traditional programmes that focus only on prediction, this mission integrates “weather management”, the science of actively influencing meteorological phenomena.
Why it matters
Weather modification: A standout feature is the exploration of techniques like cloud seeding to manage rainfall and mitigate droughts. A state-of-the-art Cloud Chamber at IITM-Pune allows scientists to simulate Indian monsoon conditions to research rain enhancement and fog/hail suppression.
Hyper-local accuracy: The mission aims for “Nowcasting” (short-term forecasts) every one hour instead of three. It targets 100% detection of severe weather at the village and household levels by leveraging AI and Machine Learning.
Advanced infrastructure: Implementation includes deploying 50 next-generation Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs), 100 disdrometers and high-performance supercomputers to capture microclimatic variations.
Sectoral impact: Beyond disaster management, it provides actionable advisories for agriculture, aviation and renewable energy, directly supporting the livelihoods of millions.
Key components
Phase I (2024-2026): Focuses on expanding the observational network and setting up “Urban Testbeds” for smart city air quality.
Phase II (Post-2026): Will introduce advanced satellite systems and aircraft-based observations to further refine climate modelling.
Final outlook
Mission Mausam represents a shift from “reactive” to “proactive” climate governance. By mastering the physics of clouds and integrating AI-driven forecasting, India is positioning itself as a global leader in climate resilience, ensuring that its development is no longer a gamble on the monsoons.
