IMD at 150: How India’s Weather Watchdog Saves Lives & Why Exam Aspirants Must Know

India’s Weather Guardian: IMD Turns 150
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recently issued a yellow alert across Delhi-NCR as the southwest monsoon advanced into Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana. Celebrating its 150th year, IMD’s forecasts during monsoons and summer heatwaves have become vital for daily safety, agriculture, and disaster planning nationwide.

From Colonial Era to Climate Pioneer
Born in 1875 after catastrophic cyclones devastated Calcutta and famines crippled India, IMD unified scattered weather observatories into a single agency. Originally focused on monsoons and cyclones, it now operates under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, with expanded roles reflecting India’s scientific ambitions:
Multi-Hazard Warnings: Issues life-saving alerts for cyclones, heatwaves, floods, and tsunamis as the World Meteorological Organization’s regional hub.
Precision Forecasting: Powers aviation, farming, and disaster management with hyper-local predictions.
Climate Intelligence: Tracks long-term climate shifts using satellite data and AI.
Agricultural Lifeline: Delivers block-level crop advisories to 25+ million farmers via Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa.
Tech Revolution: Monsoon Mission to Bharat Forecast System
IMD’s cutting-edge initiatives are transforming forecasts:
Monsoon Mission: Uses supercomputers to predict rains with 90%+ accuracy, recently nailing the monsoon’s early onset.
Bharat Forecast System (BFS): This indigenous 6km-resolution model enables panchayat-level alerts – outperforming US/EU systems.
AI-Powered Mausam App: Provides real-time public weather updates and air quality indices.
Multi-Hazard Early Warnings: Doppler radars detect cyclones hours faster, saving thousands during 2024’s Northeast floods.

Challenges & Future Roadmap
Despite reducing heatwave deaths by 90% through timely alerts, IMD battles climate change chaos and rural connectivity gaps. Key priorities include:
Deploying sensors in remote/hilly regions
Boosting last-mile alert delivery via apps and community radios
Meeting Viksit Bharat 2047 goals with made-in-India weather tech

Why This Matters for Exams:
IMD’s evolution is a hot topic for SSC, PSC, UPSC, and state exams because:
Covers current affairs (monsoon alerts, heatwaves)
Links governance (disaster management policies) and science (indigenous tech like BFS)
Illustrates climate change impacts – a key essay theme
Features in environment/geography sections
Demonstrates Atmanirbhar Bharat in action

Sample Q&A for Exam Prep:
Q: What triggered IMD’s establishment in 1875?
A: Devastating Calcutta cyclones (1864) and back-to-back famines (1866, 1871).
Q: How does Bharat Forecast System upgrade India’s weather tech?
A: With 6km-resolution indigenous modeling – 64% more accurate than global systems.
Q: Name IMD’s initiative for farmers. How does it work?
A: Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa delivers block-level crop advisories via SMS/radio.
Q: What role does IMD play in global disaster management?
A: As WMO’s regional hub, it names cyclones and issues Indian Ocean warnings.
Q: Which IMD tech tool helps urban citizens daily?
A: The Mausam app gives real-time air quality/weather alerts.

How to Prepare for Entrance Exams:
For high-yield revision, focus on IMD’s milestones, tech upgrades, and disaster management roles. At myentrance.in, we simplify your prep with:
✅ Most predicted questions on current affairs like IMD
✅ Topic-wise mock tests for SSC/PSC/UPSC
✅ Daily news analysis and exam-focused timelines
Pro Tip: Our “Monsoon Mission” and “Disaster Management” modules include previous years’ questions – the perfect place to master this topic!