The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), a pioneering institution in weather forecasting and meteorological services in India, marked a historic milestone on January 15, 2025, as it celebrated 150 years since its establishment. Known for its vital contributions to agriculture, disaster management, and public safety, the IMD plays a crucial role in shaping India’s socio-economic fabric by providing accurate and timely weather updates. IMD is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences that is responsible for carrying out meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and seismology

About IMD Full Form, Objectives, and Origin

• IMD Full Form:  Indian Meteorological Department.
• Objective: The main objective of IMD is to make meteorological observations for India.
  • It is also responsible for forecasting, naming, and distribution of warnings for tropical cyclones in the Northern Indian Ocean region of the world.
  • IMD is also very important for its role as one of the six Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres of the World Meteorological Organization.
• Organization Structure: The Director General of Meteorology heads IMD. There are six Regional Meteorological Centres located in Chennai, Guwahati, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nagpur, and New Delhi, each under a Deputy Director General. 

150 Years of IMD: A Journey of Innovation and Service

Established in 1875, the IMD began as a modest effort to enhance weather observation and forecasting in British India. Over the decades, the department has evolved into a globally recognized meteorological institution, setting benchmarks in technological advancement and service delivery. Here are some key milestones in its illustrious history:

• Early Years: Initially focused on tracking storms and understanding the monsoon, the IMD played a pivotal role in the safety of British shipping and agriculture in India.
• Technological Advancements: With the advent of satellite technology in the 20th century, IMD embraced innovation by establishing its own satellite systems for real-time weather data.
• Global Recognition: Over the years, IMD has earned a place on the world stage, contributing to international meteorological research and disaster management.
• Modern Contributions: Today, IMD provides real-time weather forecasts, alerts for cyclones, rainfall predictions, and climate change studies, proving indispensable to agriculture, aviation, shipping, and daily life.

IMD: Origin and History:

• 1875: IMD was established with British meteorologist and paleontologist H.F. Blanford as Meteorological Reporter.
• 1875-1890: Nascency

• • In 1877, India initiated measuring of seismological activity with the establishment of the first observatory in Alipore, Kolkata.
  • IMD joined the World Meteorological Organization to enhance global weather and climate monitoring, emphasising international collaboration.
  • By 1886, the port warning system, initially implemented at Kolkata Port in 1865, was expanded to cover all Indian ports, bolstering maritime safety.
  • In 1890, IMD assumed the role of Rainfall Registration Authority, standardising rain measurement through the adoption of a common rain gauge type, endorsed by a Government of India resolution.
• The British East India Company pioneered meteorological observatories in the country by setting up the Calcutta Observatory in 1785, the Madras Observatory in 1796, and the Colaba Observatory in 1826. 
• The study of meteorology was also promoted by the Asiatic Society, founded in Calcutta in 1784 and in Bombay in 1804.
• After a tropical cyclone event in Calcutta in 1864, and the subsequent famines in 1866 and 1871 due to the failure of the monsoons, authorities decided to organize the collection and analysis of meteorological observations under a single roof. 
• As a result, the India Meteorology Department was established on 15 January 1875 with the headquarters in Calcutta.

Functions of IMD:

• Observations: It conducts a series of surface and glacial observatories, Upper Air altitude observations, and ozone and radiation observations.
• Processing Satellite data: It also processes data received from India’s constellation of satellites, such as Kalpana-1, Megha-Tropiques , and instruments on board the IRS and the INSAT series of satellites.
• Collaboration: It collaborates with agencies such as the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting , and the National Institute of Ocean Technology for advanced prediction.
• Seismic Observations: It is also responsible for setting up monitoring centres at key locations for earthquake monitoring and measurements.
• Cyclone forecasting and Naming: It is the regional nodal agency for forecasting, naming, and providing warnings about tropical cyclones in the Indian Ocean north of the Equator.
• Meteorological Statistics: It provides meteorological statistics for agriculture, water resource management, industries, oil exploration, and other nation-building activities.

Significance of IMD

• Support Farming Community: It provides direct support to the farming community in India by predicting monsoons, duration, and intensity of rainfall, and also the likely effect of rainfall.
• Disaster Management: By predicting rainfall, cyclones, heat waves, and cold waves, the IMD helps in disaster prediction and management.
• Accurate Weather: The predictions made by IMD using advanced instruments help in making accurate weather predictions in the country.
• Study Climate Change: It also carries out a study of changing weather patterns to understand the effects of climate change on India.

Initiatives of IMD

• National Monsoon Mission

• • The ‘National Monsoon Mission’ (NMM) was launched in 2012 with a goal of developing a state-of-the-art dynamical prediction system for monsoon rainfall on different time scales.
  • The goal of the mission is to make a dynamic prediction system using monsoon mission models, on different time scales, like Seasonal (complete Monsoon season), Extended range (up to 4 weeks), and Short range (up to 5 days).
  • It also seeks to carry out partnerships between Indian and foreign institutes to develop a system for the prediction of extremes and climate applications.

• Mausam App

• • The Ministry of Earth Sciences launched the Mausam app to carry out improvements in the dissemination of weather forecasts and warning services based on the latest tools and technologies.
  • It has been developed through combined efforts of ICRISAT’s Digital Agriculture & Youth (DAY) team, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and the India Meteorological Department.
  • The app is dedicated to the general public and designed to communicate weather information and forecasts in an easy-to-understand manner.

• Doppler Weather Radars

• • IMD has recently commissioned ten indigenously built X-Band Doppler Weather Radars (DWR) which will closely monitor the weather changes over the Himalayas.
  • These radars have been designed and developed by ISRO and manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru.
  • These radars, deployed over the Himalayas, will seek to gather atmospheric variations and pick signals of extreme weather events.
  • The radar will provide timely weather forecasts and warnings to ensure that governments make advance plans and initiate rescue measures during disasters.
  • The Doppler radars work using the Doppler Effect to produce velocity data about objects at a distance. This is performed by bouncing off a microwave signal off a desired target.
  • The Doppler radar can accurately measure rainfall intensity, wind shear and velocity and locate the centre of the storm and also the direction of a tornado or gust front.
• National Framework of Climate Services (NFCS): Launched to reduce losses from climate hazards and extreme weather events.
  • Aim: To strengthen the production and delivery of science-based climate monitoring and prediction services for sectors such as agriculture, health, energy, and disaster management.