Jitendra Singh launches indigenous Bharat Forecast System with 6-km resolution

On Monday, Union Minister of Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the Bharat Forecast System — one of the first globally developed high-resolution weather forecasting models — during a ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Created by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune, the Bharat Forecast System represents an important technological breakthrough, improving India’s weather forecasting resolution from 12 km to 6 km. This enables India to offer more precise village-level weather predictions, enhancing readiness in various sectors such as agriculture, disaster response, and transportation.

While addressing the event, Dr. Jitendra Singh remarked that the system represents a significant advancement in the government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ campaigns. He noted that as India ascends to be the fourth largest economy globally, accurate weather forecasting will enhance economic growth by minimizing potential losses and optimizing results, especially in climate-sensitive industries.

“This indigenous breakthrough positions India among the global leaders in weather prediction,” said the Minister. “It is a proud testament to the country’s growing self-reliance in science and technology.”

An outstanding feature of the Bharat Forecast System is its leadership by four women scientists, reflecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to empower ‘Nari Shakti’ in the field of science. “Our Science Ministries are no longer the ones empowering women — we are now being empowered by them,” stated Dr. Singh.

The Bharat Forecast System utilizes the sophisticated ‘Triangular Cubic Octahedral Grid model’, allowing for real-time modelling. It has shown a 30% betterment in predicting extreme rainfall occurrences and a 64% increase in accuracy within primary monsoon regions.

Dr. Singh emphasized that this system’s development is fully homegrown — from idea to implementation — and that it will also aid other tropical areas worldwide that encounter intricate and fluctuating weather conditions. Commending the joint work of IITM, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), ISRO, and various organizations, the Minister referred to it as a “Whole of Science” and “Whole of Government” method, highlighting India’s cohesive scientific advancement strategy.

He also recognized the substantial progress achieved by the IMD in recent times, such as the current execution of Mission Mausam, which has a ₹2000 crore budget to enhance the nation’s climate forecasting systems.