IMD’s 150th Anniversary and Jammu’s Meteorological Milestone

A major achievement in Indian meteorology was made on January 10, 2023. Jammu will now have a Regional Meteorological Centre, according to Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology. The news came as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) celebrated IMD’s 150th Anniversary. Improved meteorological services, with an emphasis on climate resilience and disaster preparedness, would be the primary goal of the new center in Jammu and Kashmir. The government’s dedication to better weather forecasting and the protection of the region’s residents is evident in this program.

IMD’s Achievements Praised

The IMD has made outstanding contributions to India’s scientific scene, which Dr. Jitendra Singh lauded. Having started off as a small weather station in 1875, the IMD has grown into a major player in the field. Agriculture, disaster. Management, aviation, and defense are just a few of the many industries that rely on the meteorological data it provides. The minister underlined that people are now able to base their judgments on trustworthy weather data because of the dramatic improvement in the accuracy and credibility of IMD’s forecasts.

Additionally, the Srinagar Meteorology Centre’s historical importance was emphasized. The World Meteorological Organization named it a Centennial Centre, establishing it as the gold standard for regional weather forecasts. Dr. Singh was optimistic that Jammu’s new Regional Meteorological Centre will achieve the same level of achievement. To ensure the safety and well-being of its population, the Jammu region faces unique topographical and climatic issues. The center will address these challenges and provide timely and accurate weather forecasts.

Tech Boosts India’s Weather Forecasting

Innovations in technology have revolutionized India’s weather forecasting skills since 2014. Thanks, we were able to increase the accuracy of our forecasts by 40%. The combination of advanced land, sea, and space technology, as pointed out by Dr. Jitendra Singh. Natural catastrophes, including cyclones, flash floods, and avalanches, have been lessened in severity thanks to this technological advancement. An enormous expansion of the IMD’s infrastructure has taken place under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The number of AWSs in Jammu and Kashmir has increased from 100 to 200 in the last decade. Also, strategic sites like Jammu, Srinagar, Manihal, and Leh now have state-of-the-art X-band radars set up. In order to provide reliable weather forecasts for important events like. The Amarnath Yatra and the Vaishno Devi pilgrimages, these advancements are vital. The government prioritizes citizens’ safety and readiness against climatic threats, as evidenced by its commitment to improving meteorological infrastructure.

Mission Mausam Unveiled

Mission Mausam is a government-led effort to transform India into a “weather-ready and climate-smart” nation. Enhancing outreach programs and prediction tools is the objective of this ₹2,000 crore project that is set to run from 2024 to 2026. Dr. Jitendra Singh claims that disseminating useful climate information to stakeholders and individuals is the mission’s primary objective. Becoming a world leader in meteorology and catastrophe preparedness by 2047 is the ambition for India.

Dr. Singh also shared news of future partnerships with the Srinagar Meteorology Centre and other academic institutions, in addition to this mission. A new generation of weather experts will be nurtured through these relationships, which will boost research and innovation in the meteorological sciences. With its helpful agricultural recommendations and weather updates for important industries, the IMD is clearly becoming more relevant in people’s daily lives. With the department’s new SMS and WhatsApp notifications, information may be quickly delivered to millions of people.

IMD Marks 150 Years of Excellence

In January of 2025, the IMD will celebrate its IMD’s 150th Anniversary, a time to reflect on the past and reveal plans for the future. Lastly. Dr Jitendra Singh emphasized the significance of continuing to push for a future when India is the world leader in meteorology. Guaranteeing the well-being and security of every individual. This journey has reached a major milestone with the creation of the Regional Meteorological Centre in Jammu. The government has shown its dedication to improving scientific infrastructure and providing citizens with trustworthy meteorological services.

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