Dr Jitendra launches world-class ‘Forecast System’, aims to consolidate India’s economic growth
STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh on Monday dedicated one of the world’s first indigenously developed high-resolution weather forecast systems – the Bharat Forecast System – at a launch ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said, as India celebrates the rise of her economy to Rank 4 and looks forward to move up to Rank 1, our forecast precision aims to consolidate India’s economic growth by reducing potential losses ang simultaneously adding potential gains.
Developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, the cutting-edge system enhances India’s weather prediction resolution from 12 km to 6 km, enabling every village in India to access more precise and location-specific forecasts. This advancement marks a quantum leap in India’s weather services and is a significant milestone under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives.
Dr. Jitendra said “This indigenous breakthrough positions India among global leaders in weather prediction. It’s a proud testament to our rise as the world’s 4th largest economy and showcases our ability to develop state-of-the-art, self-reliant scientific solutions is another feather in the Nation’s Cap.”
In a heartening revelation, Dr. Singh shared that the Bharat Forecast System is being spearheaded by four women scientists, reflecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Nari Shakti’. “Science Ministries no longer empower women – we are being empowered by them,” he noted.
Highlighting the nationalistic spirit behind the project, Dr. Jitendra said, “The efforts are Indian, the technology is Indian, and the beneficiaries are Indian. This is true Atmanirbharta. Moreover, this system will also benefit other tropical regions globally, which face the most complex and variable weather challenges.”
Emphasizing the tribute to ‘Vikas Se Virasat’ and the government’s commitment to using modern technology to support traditional sectors like agriculture, Dr. Jitendra said the system would help reduce crop loss and anomalies by improving extreme weather predictions – with a 30% improvement in extreme rainfall forecasts and a 64% enhancement in core zones, using real-time modeling based on the ‘Triangular Cubic Octahedral Grid model.’
Dr. Jitendra emphasized the government’s commitment to last-mile delivery of forecasts, enabling both citizens and farmers to make informed decisions and mitigate risks.
At the event, Dr. Jitendra also launched IITM’s Hindi Rajbhasha magazine “Indradhanush”, celebrating linguistic inclusion in science communication.
