Minister inaugurates Selfie Point depicting Weather Radar at IMD headquarters
JAMMU: Minister of State (MoS) PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh said that India has significantly expanded its Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) network since 2014, increasing from 14 operational units to 50, marking over 250% rise. Dr Jitendra added these additions, covering over 87% of the country, improve forecasting for cyclones, heavy rain, and thunderstorms under the India Meteorological Department (IMD), with 50 more planned under Mission Mausam.
Dr Jitendra Singh spoke to the media after inaugurating a Selfie Point, depicting Weather Radar, at the entrance gate of India Meteorological Department (IMD) headquarters, at Lodhi Road, here.
The Minister said, this transformation has been made possible due to the high priority accorded to the sector by the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leading to greater accuracy, accessibility and public trust in forecasts.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that India’s meteorological services have undergone a remarkable transformation over the last decade. From a time when weather forecasts were often met with scepticism, the system today provides highly reliable and precise predictions used by a wide spectrum of users, from farmers and homemakers to pilots and event planners.
Referring to advancements in forecasting, he highlighted the introduction of ‘Nowcast’ services, which provide highly localised and accurate forecasts for the next three hours. He said that such real-time information is crucial for disaster preparedness, urban planning and day-to-day decision-making.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also spoke about the role of Doppler Weather Radar technology in strengthening India’s weather monitoring system. These radars use the Doppler effect to track the movement and velocity of weather systems, enabling accurate and timely forecasts.
The Minister also referred to the Government’s focused initiatives such as Mission Mausam, aimed at strengthening weather and climate services, and the ongoing expansion of radar infrastructure, including installations in vulnerable regions like Jammu & Kashmir following recent extreme weather events.
The Selfie Point inaugurated showcases a legacy weather radar system, providing visitors with a tangible connection to the evolution of meteorological technology in India.
