**Executive Summary**
Mission Mausam, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has significantly improved tropical cyclone and heatwave forecasting accuracy, with track forecast errors reduced by up to 25% and landfall point errors by up to 45%. The program's success has led to the proposal of Mission Mausam Phase-II, aimed at further strengthening weather and climate services, with a focus on expanding the national weather observation network and integrating advanced computing capabilities. This information was submitted to Rajya Sabha on March 12, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Enhanced Computing Infrastructure:**
* High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems "ARKA" (11.77 petaflops) and "ARUNIKA" (8.24 petaflops), along with a 1.9 petaflops AI/ML system, were inaugurated on September 26, 2024, increasing total computing capacity to 21.91 petaflops.
* This infrastructure supports the development of advanced high-resolution weather/climate models and the application of AI/ML in forecasting.
* **Tropical Cyclone Forecasting Improvements (2021-2025 vs. 2016-2020):**
* Track forecast errors reduced by 5-10% for lead times up to 48 hours.
* Track forecast errors reduced by 20-25% for longer lead times.
* Intensity forecasting improved by 33-35% for lead times up to 72 hours.
* 96-hour lead time errors decreased by 10%.
* Landfall point errors decreased by 35-45% for 24-48 hour lead times and by approximately 20% for other lead periods.
* Average 24-hour landfall point error reduced from 31.9 km to 19.0 km.
* Average 48-hour landfall error reduced from 61.5 km to 34.4 km.
* **Heatwave Forecasting and Public Benefits:**
* Heatwave forecasts are now issued 4-5 days in advance, enabling effective implementation of heat action plans.
* Improvements have resulted in timely evacuation during cyclones, better agricultural planning, and enhanced disaster preparedness.
* These benefits include reduced loss of life, property, and economic disruptions.
* **Mission Mausam Phase-II Proposal:**
* The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) proposes extending Mission Mausam to Phase-II based on its progress and growing demand for improved weather and climate services.
* Phase-II will focus on strengthening the national weather observation network, enhancing high-resolution modelling, and integrating AI/ML in forecasting systems.
* Mission Mausam is designed as a multi-phase program, with subsequent phases building upon the outcomes of the first.
**Impact Analysis**
**General Public**
* **Impact:** Benefits include timely early warnings for cyclones, heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and other extreme weather events, leading to reduced loss of life and property. Enhanced disaster preparedness improves overall safety and security.
* **Action Required:** No direct action required; the focus is on receiving improved services.
**State and District Authorities**
* **Impact:** Receive earlier and more accurate forecasts for cyclones and heatwaves, enabling effective implementation of action plans such as timely evacuations and heat action plans.
* **Action Required:** Utilize improved forecast information to implement disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies effectively.
**Agriculture Sector**
* **Impact:** Benefits from better agricultural planning, particularly during the monsoon season, leading to potentially improved crop yields and reduced losses.
* **Action Required:** Incorporate enhanced weather and climate forecasts into agricultural decision-making processes.
**Disaster Management Sector**
* **Impact:** Enhanced disaster preparedness and timely evacuations due to improved cyclone and other extreme weather event forecasts.
* **Action Required:** Leverage improved forecasting capabilities for more effective disaster response and management.
**Aviation, Fisheries, and Energy Sectors**
* **Impact:** Benefit from improved weather and climate services, which can inform operational planning and risk mitigation in these sectors.
* **Action Required:** Integrate updated weather and climate information into sector-specific operational planning.
**India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), and National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF)**
* **Impact:** Have achieved significant improvements in forecasting accuracy and capabilities due to the mission's infrastructure and advancements. They are instrumental in implementing the mission's objectives.
* **Action Required:** Continue to develop and utilize advanced forecasting capabilities and contribute to the ongoing evaluation and improvement of weather and climate services, including the proposed Phase-II.
Key Entities Referenced
Mission Mausam: A multi-phase program focused on improving weather and climate services through advanced technology and forecasting capabilities.
Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES): The government ministry responsible for implementing Mission Mausam and evaluating its benefits.
India Meteorological Department (IMD): An institution that has achieved significant improvements in tropical cyclone forecasting accuracy under Mission Mausam.
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology: An institution where High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems for Mission Mausam were inaugurated.
National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting: An institution where High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems for Mission Mausam were inaugurated.
Ministry of Earth Sciences
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: STATUS OF
IMPLEMENTATION OF MISSION MAUSAM
Posted On: 12 MAR 2026 12:43PM by PIB Delhi
Under Mission Mausam, the High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems of the Ministry of Earth
Sciences were inaugurated on 26 September 2024 by the Hon’ble Prime Minister at the Indian Institute of
Tropical Meteorology, Pune and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, Noida. The
systems, named “ARKA” (computing capacity of 11.77 petaflops) and “ARUNIKA” (8.24 petaflops),
along with a dedicated 1.9 petaflops AI/ML system, have increased the Ministry’s total computing
capacity to 21.91 petaflops. This enhanced computational infrastructure enables development of advanced
high-resolution weather and climate models, and the application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine
Learning for forecasting.
IMD has achieved a significant leap in tropical cyclone forecasting accuracy during the 2021-2025 period
compared to 2016-2020. Track forecast errors have been reduced by 5-10% for lead times up to 48 hours
and by 20-25% for longer lead times. Intensity forecasting has also shown substantial improvement, with a
33-35% enhancement for lead times up to 72 hours, while errors at the 96-hour lead time have decreased
by 10%. The most pronounced improvement has been observed in landfall prediction, which is critical for
timely coastal evacuations. Landfall point errors decreased by 35-45% for 24 to 48 hours and by about
20% for other lead periods. The average 24- hour landfall point error reduced from 31.9 km during 2016-
20 to 19.0 km during 2021-25, while the 48-hour landfall error declined from 61.5 km to 34.4 km.
Heatwave forecasts are now issued 4–5 days in advance, enabling effective implementation of heat action
plans by State and district authorities. These improvements have resulted in significant socio-economic
benefits, including timely evacuation during cyclones, better agricultural planning during the monsoon,
and improved disaster preparedness, thereby reducing loss of life, property, and economic disruptions
across multiple sectors.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) periodically evaluates the benefits of improvements in weather
and climate services through impact assessments, verification of forecast skill scores, and feedback from
user sectors such as agriculture, disaster management, aviation, fisheries, and energy. These assessments
indicate that improved forecasting capabilities—implemented by institutions such as the India
Meteorological Department, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and the National Centre for
Medium Range Weather Forecasting—have resulted in significant public benefits, including better early
warnings for cyclones, heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and other extreme weather events. The improvements
have enabled timely evacuations, enhanced disaster preparedness, better agricultural decision-making, and
reduced loss of life and property. Yes, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is proposing the extension
of Mission Mausam to Phase-II based on the progress achieved and the growing demand for improved
weather and climate services.
Further, Mission Mausam has been designed as a multi-phase programme. The Government proposes to
continue and expand the initiative in subsequent phases based on the outcomes of the first phase. Several
initiatives under the mission expected to improve our understanding of the complex weather processes.The proposed second phase will focus on further strengthening the national weather observation network,
enhancing high-resolution weather and climate modelling capabilities using advanced High-Performance
Computing, integrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in forecasting systems.
This information was submitted by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, Dr.
Jitendra Singh in Rajya Sabha on 12 March 2026.
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NKR/JKP
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