UPSC Editorial Analysis: India’s Monsoon Crisis and “Mission Mausam”

Source: The Hindu

*General Studies-1; Topic: Important Geophysical phenomena such as **earthquakes**, **Tsunami**, Volcanic activity, **cyclone **etc., *

Introduction

• India faced one of the worst monsoon seasons in recent years, with recurrent flooding affecting most states.

• According to a 2021 study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), approximately 40% of districts in India experience alternating climatic hazards—flood-prone areas also face droughts in the dry season.

• A separate analysis of 40 years of rainfall data by CEEW shows a 64% increase in heavy rainfall days during the monsoons over the past decade, exacerbating climate risks.

Need for Better Weather Forecasting:

• In this scenario, nearly two-thirds of India’s population is exposed to flood risks, but only a third of these people are covered by early warning systems.

• India’s cyclone warning systems are more comprehensive, covering all cyclone-prone areas. In contrast, flood-prone regions lack sufficient coverage.

• There is an urgent need for India to invest in weather forecasting, using technological innovations to tackle increasing extreme weather events.

Introduction to ‘Mission Mausam’:

• Mission Mausam, approved in September 2024, is aimed at addressing weather risks by: Expanding India’s weather observation network. Improving weather forecasting models using modern physics and machine learning. Exploring weather modification techniques to mitigate weather impacts.

• Expanding India’s weather observation network.

• Improving weather forecasting models using modern physics and machine learning.

• Exploring weather modification techniques to mitigate weather impacts.

• The mission is driven by three primary institutions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES): India Meteorological Department (IMD) National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM)

• India Meteorological Department (IMD)

• National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF)

• Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM)

• The initiative has a budget of ₹2,000 crore and aims to improve forecasting capabilities in climate risk areas and make weather data widely available for sectors such as energy, agriculture, and water.

Key Areas for ‘Mission Mausam’ Focus:

Gaps in Radar Coverage:

• 39 Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs) monitor rainfall across India, but there are significant gaps, especially along the western coast and in urban centres.

• While the Himalayan states and eastern coast have substantial radar coverage, the western coastline (with only five radars) is under-monitored.

• Urban centres like Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Jodhpur, which have faced recurrent flooding, also lack radar coverage.

• Mission Mausam should prioritize installing additional DWRs in these high-risk regions to improve short-term forecasting.

Limited Data Access and Innovation:

• Access to weather data is critical for developing localised early warning systems and analysing extreme weather events.

• Countries like the United States and European Union make their weather data openly available, facilitating the development of analytical tools for local governments and researchers.

• In India, while the IMD shares data, there are restrictions on the volume and accessibility for academic researchers and entrepreneurs.

• Mission Mausam should focus on making data from new instruments like DWRs, wind profilers, and radiometers freely available to foster innovation and better decision-making.

Improving Communication and User Capacity:

• The IMD currently disseminates weather warnings via multiple channels, including web and mobile apps.

• The district-wise weather warning system provides short-term forecasts, but user experience can be further improved.

• There is a need to enhance user capacity by providing guidance on how to interpret warnings and take action. This can be done through: Informative videos User guides Media outreach

• Informative videos

• User guides

• Media outreach

• This will empower citizens to better understand and respond to weather warnings, reducing the impact of extreme weather events.

Way Forward:

• Mission Mausam is a timely initiative aimed at making India climate-resilient by expanding the observational network and enhancing forecasting capabilities.

• With a focus on installing more weather radars in vulnerable regions, improving data accessibility, and enhancing public awareness, the mission has the potential to transform India’s preparedness for extreme weather events.

• As climate risks grow, Mission Mausam can play a crucial role in safeguarding lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure by providing reliable and timely weather forecasts.

• Public awareness campaigns and educational tools are essential for ensuring that citizens in flood-prone and high-risk areas are equipped with the necessary information to act effectively during extreme weather events.

• Develop a robust open data policy that allows researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs easy access to detailed, real-time weather data, similar to practices in the United States and the European Union.

• Focus on weather modification techniques, such as cloud seeding, to mitigate extreme weather conditions like droughts or intense rainfall in vulnerable areas.

• Promote public-private partnerships (PPPs) in weather forecasting technology to leverage private sector innovation and expertise.

Conclusion:

• At a time when extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and intensity, Mission Mausam is a critical step towards making India weather-ready and climate-smart.

• By focusing on closing gaps in weather observation, improving forecasting accuracy, and empowering citizens with better information, the mission has the potential to significantly reduce the human and economic toll of extreme weather events.

Practice Question:

Analyze the impact of climate change on India’s monsoon patterns and discuss how initiatives like “Mission Mausam” can help mitigate the risks posed by extreme weather events. (250 words)