India Unveils ‘Bharat Forecast System’: A Major Leap in Village-Level Weather Prediction, Powered by Women Scientists

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India has taken a historic step in climate science and public safety with the launch of the ‘Bharat Forecast System’, one of the world’s first indigenously developed high-resolution weather prediction models. The system was formally unveiled on May 26 at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi by Union Earth Sciences Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh.

Developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, the system marks a shift from a 12 km to a 6 km resolution, offering village-specific forecasts for the first time in the country’s history. This leap forward supports the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat mission and is seen as a vital tool for disaster preparedness, agricultural resilience, and sustainable growth.

“As India rises to become the fourth-largest global economy, tools like the Bharat Forecast System will help reduce losses from extreme weather events and contribute to our nation’s economic momentum,” Dr. Singh said at the launch.

Women Scientists Leading the Way

In a moment of pride for India’s scientific community, Dr. Singh highlighted that the Bharat Forecast System was spearheaded by four women scientists. He linked this achievement to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Nari Shakti’, saying,

“Our science ministries are not just empowering women—we are being empowered by them.”

The system is built using the Triangular Cubic Octahedral Grid Model, enabling sharper, real-time predictions of monsoons, rainfall, cyclones, and extreme weather. It has already demonstrated:

• 30% improvement in forecasting extreme rainfall

• 64% enhancement in key weather zones across India

According to Dr. Singh, this level of precision will benefit farmers, city planners, disaster response teams, and everyday citizens by delivering alerts and insights at the hyper-local level.

A Collaborative Scientific Push

The Bharat Forecast System is the result of a “Whole of Government, Whole of Science” effort involving IITM, India Meteorological Department (IMD), ISRO, and several other institutions. The system is expected to serve not just India but also tropical nations worldwide, which often face unpredictable and severe weather patterns.

“This is a 100% Indian innovation, made for India and ready to serve the world. This is true Atmanirbharta in science,” said Dr. Singh.

Boost to Climate Infrastructure

The unveiling comes in the wake of Mission Mausam, a ₹2,000 crore initiative to upgrade India’s climate infrastructure. Over 20 government ministries—including those for agriculture, transport, and space—already rely on IMD’s forecasting systems.

Dr. Singh also launched “Indradhanush,” IITM’s new Hindi science magazine, aimed at increasing linguistic access to scientific knowledge.

With India aiming to become the world’s third-largest economy, innovations like the Bharat Forecast System will play a key role in supporting infrastructure, agriculture, and citizen preparedness. The government has emphasized the importance of last-mile delivery of forecasts, especially for rural farmers and coastal communities most vulnerable to climate extremes.

As India strengthens its position in global science and technology, the Bharat Forecast System is more than just a weather model—it is a symbol of innovation, inclusion, and the country’s growing role in solving the climate challenges of the future.

Source: PIB – Press Information Bureau