**Executive Summary**
The document is a report from the Ministry of Earth Sciences, published on February 20, 2026, summarising Dr. M. Ravichandran's address at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. He advocated for integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) with traditional physics-based meteorological models. The goal is to improve weather prediction, particularly for localised and high-impact events.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **AI's Role in Weather Prediction:**
* AI is crucial for mastering the "time series" and localized nuances of weather patterns, complementing traditional models' broad spatial forecasting capabilities.
* The solution lies in fusing both traditional models and AI to better predict high-impact events like cloudbursts.
* **Reducing Model Assumptions:**
* AI can minimize errors in numerical models by improving "initial conditions," leading to more accurate forecasts.
* **Legacy Data Utilisation:**
* The India Meteorological Department (IMD) possesses 150 years of legacy data that should be opened up to researchers for analysis.
* **Downscaling for Localised Protection:**
* AI's ability to "downscale" large-scale models to a 1-kilometer resolution is key for localized weather protection.
* **Trust and Validation:**
* Rigorous validation and verification processes are essential to ensure the reliability of AI-generated insights for public safety.
* **Multi-Disciplinary Collaboration:**
* Dr. Ravichandran urged the scientific community to embrace multi-disciplinary collaboration, incorporating experts from various fields.
**Impact Analysis**
**Meteorologists and Weather Scientists:**
* **Impact:** Will need to adapt their methodologies to incorporate AI into existing weather prediction models and workflows.
* **Action Required:** Learn and implement AI techniques, collaborate with data scientists and other experts to integrate AI into weather forecasting.
**Researchers:**
* **Impact:** Will gain access to 150 years of historical weather data from the IMD.
* **Action Required:** Utilise the open data to research and develop improved weather prediction models using AI.
**General Public:**
* **Impact:** Benefit from more accurate and localised weather forecasts, especially for high-impact events.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of and trust validated AI-generated weather insights for improved public safety and decision-making.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Earth Sciences: The primary governmental body responsible for the discussed weather prediction and climate research.
India AI Impact Summit 2026: The event where the roadmap for weather prediction using AI was discussed.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): A core technology being integrated with traditional methods for improved weather forecasting.
India Meteorological Department (IMD): The national agency responsible for meteorological observations and weather forecasting, holding significant historical data.
Bharat Mandapam: The location where the India AI Impact Summit 2026 was held.
Ministry of Earth Sciences
“Blending Physics with AI is the Future”: Dr. M.
Ravichandran’s Roadmap for Weather Prediction
Posted On: 20 FEB 2026 6:52PM by PIB Delhi
Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), today emphasized a paradigm
shift in meteorological science, calling for the strategic integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with
traditional physics-based models to tackle the growing unpredictability of climate extremes.
Speaking at the high-level panel discussion titled “Harnessing AI to Manage Climate Extremes and
Build Sustainable Systems” during the final day of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat
Mandapam, Dr. Ravichandran highlighted that while traditional models excel at broad spatial forecasting,
AI is essential for mastering the "time series" and localized nuances of modern weather patterns.
The “Elephant and the Ant” Analogy
In a compelling address, Dr. Ravichandran used a vivid metaphor to describe the current challenge facing
scientists.
“Earlier, we just had to track the 'elephant'—the large-scale weather systems. But today,
because of climate change, we need to track the 'ant' sitting on that elephant. We need to see
both the spatial movement and the hyper-local time series,” he remarked.
He explained that while physics-based numerical models are effective for spatial mapping, AI
outperforms them in local, time-sensitive rhythms. The solution, he noted, lies in fusing both
to predict high-impact events like cloudbursts, which currently remain notoriously difficult to
forecast.
Key Highlights from the Address:
Reducing Model Assumptions: Dr. Ravichandran noted that numerical models rely on numerous
assumptions that lead to error growth. AI can be utilized to minimize these errors and improve "initial
conditions," leading to significantly more accurate forecasts.
Unlocking 150 Years of Legacy Data: India possesses a massive treasure trove of data from the India
Meteorological Department (IMD) spanning 150 years. The Secretary called for this data to be "opened
up" to a wider pool of young researchers and multi-disciplinary experts.
The Power of Downscaling: He identified AI’s ability to "downscale" large-scale models to a 1-
kilometer resolution as a game-changer for localized weather protection.
Building Trust through Validation: Addressing the ethics of AI, he emphasized that trust is the
cornerstone of any forecast system. He advocated for rigorous validation and verification processes to
ensure AI-generated insights are reliable for public safety.A Call for Multi-Disciplinary Collaboration
Dr. Ravichandran concluded by urging the scientific community to break out of departmental silos. “We
shouldn't just think in one way. We need biology experts, data scientists, and researchers from multiple
disciplines to look at our data through different lenses. This data-driven approach is the only way forward
for building a climate-resilient India.”
This Panel Discussion was organized by Indian Al Research Organisation (IAIRO), Atria University, C-
DAC, IITM/MOES and LokNeeti.
Other than Dr. M. Ravichandran the panelists of this discussion were - Er. Manish Bhardwaj (Secretary,
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman( CEO, Anusandhan
National Research Foundation ), Prof. Amit Sheth (Founding Director, IAIRO & Professor, University of
South Carolina), Dr. Praphul Chandra (Professor and Dean (Research), Atria University), Dr. Karthik
Kashinath (Distinguished Scientist & Engineer, NVIDIA, Santa Clara, USA), Prof. Dev Niyogi ( William
Stamps Farish Chair Professor and UNESCO Chair, University of Texas at Austin, Jackson School of
Geosciences), Sandeep Singhal ( Senior Adviser & Investment Committee Member, Avaana Capital) and
Dr. Akshara Kaginalkar ( Professor of Practice, Centre for Climate Change, Atria University) .*******
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