The India Meteorological Department is India’s national meteorological agency under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. It is responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting, climate services and early warnings for weather-related hazards.
It provides forecasts and warnings for events such as:
- rainfall
- heat waves
- cold waves
- cyclones
- thunderstorms
- heavy rainfall
- fog
- snowfall
- monsoon behaviour
- marine weather
- aviation weather
IMD is one of India’s most important scientific institutions because weather information affects agriculture, disaster management, aviation, shipping, water management, energy, public health and daily life.
Background
IMD was established in 1875, after a series of severe weather events in the nineteenth century showed the need for organised meteorological observation in India.
In 2025, IMD completed 150 years of service. On this occasion, the Government launched Mission Mausam and released the IMD Vision-2047 document to modernise India’s weather and climate services.
Mandate and Functions
IMD’s core role is to observe, analyse and forecast weather and climate conditions.
Its major functions include:
- collecting meteorological data through observatories, radars, satellites and automatic weather stations
- issuing short-range, medium-range, extended-range and seasonal forecasts
- monitoring the southwest and northeast monsoon
- issuing cyclone warnings for the North Indian Ocean region
- providing weather services for agriculture, aviation, shipping, defence and disaster management
- issuing heat wave, cold wave, thunderstorm and heavy rainfall alerts
- maintaining long-term climate records
- supporting climate research and risk assessment
- providing impact-based forecasts for vulnerable sectors
IMD’s official platforms provide daily weather forecasts, cyclone alerts, radar images, extended-range forecasts, seasonal outlooks and monsoon updates.
Role in Monsoon Forecasting
The monsoon is central to India’s economy because a large share of agriculture remains rainfall-dependent. IMD provides forecasts for:
- onset of southwest monsoon
- seasonal rainfall
- region-wise rainfall distribution
- active and break phases of monsoon
- extended-range rainfall outlook
- heavy rainfall warnings
These forecasts help farmers, state governments, reservoir managers and disaster-management agencies prepare for rainfall variability.
For 2026, IMD has already issued updates such as the Forecast of the Onset Date of Southwest Monsoon over Kerala, the Long Range Forecast for the 2026 Southwest Monsoon Season Rainfall, and extended-range forecasts for May 2026.
Role in Disaster Management
IMD is crucial for disaster-risk reduction because many Indian disasters are weather-linked.
It provides early warnings for:
- cyclones
- floods caused by heavy rainfall
- cloudbursts
- heat waves
- cold waves
- thunderstorms and lightning
- urban flooding
- marine hazards
- high winds
India’s improvement in cyclone forecasting is one of IMD’s major achievements. Better forecasts, impact-based warnings and coordination with disaster-management authorities have helped reduce cyclone-related deaths over time.
IMD is also recognised by the World Meteorological Organization as a Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre for tropical cyclones over the North Indian Ocean region. It is responsible for forecasting, naming and issuing warnings for cyclones over the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea region.
Mission Mausam
Mission Mausam is the latest major initiative to transform India’s weather and climate services.
The Union Cabinet approved Mission Mausam on 11 September 2024 with an outlay of ₹2,000 crore over two years. It aims to make India more weather-ready and climate-smart by improving observation, modelling, forecasting and early-warning systems.
The mission includes:
- next-generation radars
- advanced satellite systems
- improved atmospheric observations
- high-performance computing systems
- better weather and climate models
- more accurate early warnings
- improved services for agriculture, disaster management and climate resilience
Mission Mausam is implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences through institutions such as IMD, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting.
Latest Developments
High-Performance Computing systems under Mission Mausam were inaugurated on 26 September 2024 at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, Noida. These systems are meant to improve weather modelling and forecast accuracy.
In January 2025, IMD’s 150th Foundation Day was marked by the launch of Mission Mausam and release of IMD Vision-2047, signalling a long-term plan to upgrade India’s forecasting and climate-service capabilities.
In May 2026, reports noted that IMD introduced two AI-enabled advanced weather-forecast systems, including a monsoon advance forecasting system for more localised predictions up to four weeks in advance. The system is expected to support agricultural planning across more than 3,000 sub-districts in 16 states.
Importance for Agriculture
IMD’s forecasts are vital for Indian agriculture because rainfall, temperature and extreme weather directly affect sowing, irrigation, pest control, harvesting and crop yields.
IMD supports agriculture through:
- agro-meteorological advisories
- rainfall forecasts
- drought and dry-spell alerts
- heat and cold wave warnings
- monsoon outlooks
- district-level weather information
- advisories for farmers through state agencies and digital platforms
Reliable weather information helps farmers reduce losses, choose sowing windows, plan irrigation and manage climate risks.
Importance for Economy
Weather affects several sectors of the economy.
IMD supports:
- agriculture through rainfall and crop advisories
- aviation through airport weather services
- shipping and fisheries through marine warnings
- power sector through demand forecasting
- transport through fog and rainfall alerts
- urban governance through flood and heat warnings
- insurance sector through weather and climate data
- disaster management through early warnings
As climate variability increases, weather forecasting becomes an economic infrastructure, not merely a scientific service.
Concerns
IMD has improved significantly, but several challenges remain.
- Localised extreme events such as cloudbursts and urban floods are still difficult to predict accurately.
- India needs denser observation networks in mountains, coasts, islands and urban areas.
- Forecasts must be converted into clear, actionable warnings for citizens and local authorities.
- Last-mile communication remains uneven, especially for farmers, fishers and vulnerable communities.
- Climate change is making weather patterns more uncertain and extreme.
- Urban weather services need strengthening as cities face heat islands, flash floods and air-quality stress.
- Coordination between weather agencies, disaster authorities and local governments must improve further.
Way Forward
India needs to strengthen hyperlocal forecasting, impact-based warnings and real-time data systems.
The expansion of Doppler weather radars, automatic weather stations, satellite monitoring and AI-enabled forecasting should be prioritised in vulnerable regions such as the Himalayas, North-East, Western Ghats, coastal states and major urban centres.
Forecasts must be communicated in simple, local-language and action-oriented formats. A warning is useful only when people understand what action to take.
Weather services should be integrated with agriculture, health, water management, urban planning, transport and disaster governance.
Mission Mausam should be used not only to improve forecast accuracy, but also to build a complete weather-risk management system from observation to last-mile response.
Conclusion
The India Meteorological Department is central to India’s climate and disaster governance. From monsoon forecasts to cyclone warnings, it directly affects agriculture, public safety, transport, energy and economic planning.
With Mission Mausam, AI-enabled forecasting, high-performance computing and Vision-2047, IMD is moving towards more advanced and localised weather services. Its future importance will grow as India faces more frequent heat waves, intense rainfall, cyclones, floods and climate-linked risks.
