IMD Vision 2047: Achieving Zero Deaths and 100% Weather Detection

On January 14, 2025, during the 150th Foundation Day celebrations of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘IMD Vision-2047’ document, outlining ambitious goals to elevate India’s meteorological capabilities by the country’s centenary of independence in 2047.

Key Goals of IMD Vision-2047

• Zero Disaster Deaths: The vision sets a target to eliminate fatalities caused by severe weather events by 2047, emphasizing the importance of precise and timely forecasts to enable effective disaster management and early warnings.
• Improved Forecast Accuracy: IMD aims for zero-error forecasting for up to three days and 90% accuracy for five-day forecasts by 2047. For severe weather predictions extending up to seven days, the goal is 80% accuracy, and 70% accuracy for ten-day forecasts.
• Comprehensive Weather Detection: The plan includes achieving 100% detection of severe weather events at the village and household levels, supported by advanced technologies like improved radars and satellites.

Launch of ‘Mission Mausam’
Alongside the Vision-2047 document, Prime Minister Modi introduced ‘Mission Mausam,’ an initiative designed to make India a ‘Weather-ready and Climate-smart’ nation. The mission focuses on developing cutting-edge weather technologies, improving atmospheric observations, deploying next-gen radars and satellites, and enhancing high-performance computing systems.

Historical Context and Achievements
Founded in 1875, IMD has been a pioneer in advancing meteorological science in India. The department’s forecasting capabilities have significantly reduced casualties from natural disasters. For example, accurate cyclone warnings have helped reduce deaths from around 10,000 in 1999 to none in recent years. Additionally, the number of Doppler Weather Radars has increased from 15 in 2014 to 39 in 2023, improving coverage by 35%. Forecast accuracy has also improved by 40% between 2014 and 2023.

Global Contributions and Future Directions
IMD’s advancements not only benefit India but also provide crucial data to neighboring countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, through systems like the Flash Flood Guidance System. Going forward, IMD aims to enhance its services for disaster management, agriculture, aviation, and public safety, aligning with global efforts to tackle climate change and environmental challenges.