Lok Sabha Question No. 4386 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Above-Normal Monsoon
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Shri Baijayant Panda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4386

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 20 TH AUGUST, 2025

## ABOVE-NORMAL MONSOON

## 4386.    SHRI BAIJAYANT PANDA:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  Indian  Meteorological  Department's (IMD's)  April  2025  forecast  indicating  an  above-normal  southwest  monsoon  and  an increasing frequency of extreme rainfall events across the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of steps taken to ensure urban infrastructure resilience and flood preparedness in light of this forecast;
- (c) whether the Union Government has identified high-risk zones and initiated coordination with  States  for  climate-resilient  planning  and  drainage  reform  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (d) the  specific  measures  taken  to  support  monsoon  preparedness  and  early  warning systems in Odisha which remains highly vulnerable to seasonal flooding?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a)-(b)  Yes. The Government is aware of the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) longrange forecast  issued  for  the  2025  SW  monsoon  season.  Every  year,  IMD  issues  the long-range forecast (LRF) for the monsoon season (June to September) in two stages; In April and in May. Both these forecasts issued for 2025 indicated above-normal rainfall during the Southwest Monsoon season 2025. Along with these forecasts,  the expected spatial distribution of rainfall was also provided. Both forecasts are publicly available on the IMD's website (https://internal.imd.gov.in/press\_release/20250527\_pr\_4008.pdf) and YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/live/RezdeSjnYBw). The India Meteorological  Department  has  also  issued  seasonal  rainfall  forecasts  for  all  36 meteorological  subdivisions  of  the  country,  providing  the  probability  of  rainfall  over each region for the June-September 2025 monsoon period. In addition to the seasonal forecast,  monthly  outlooks  for  June,  July,  and  August  2025  have  also  been  released, covering both rainfall and temperature patterns, along with their likely spatial distribution across the country. In addition to the seasonal and monthly forecasts, IMD also regularly issues weekly forecasts at weekly and daily scales, along with nowcasts and impact-based forecasts for extreme rainfall events. The Central Water Commission (CWC) is mandated to issue short-range flood forecasts with a lead time of up to 24 hours to  concerned  State  Governments at  identified locations.  Timely  flood  forecasts are being issued when a certain threshold limit is reached.
- (c) The Government has taken several initiatives to protect  the country from the adverse effects  of  climate  change.  The  multi-faceted  approach  is  aimed  at  addressing  the potential  impacts  of  climate  change  on  the  country's  weather  patterns,  focusing  on adaptation, mitigation, and climate resilience-building. Key initiatives include:
-  National  Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change  (NAPCC):  Launched  in  2008,  it outlines eight national missions that focus on promoting sustainable development  while  addressing  climate  change.  These  include  solar  energy, energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture, and water conservation missions. The NAPCC,  prepared  under  the  guidance  of  the  Prime  Minister's  Council  on Climate Change, also includes measures to assess and manage the impact of sea level  rise  on  coastal  areas.  The  National  Adaptation  Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) is aimed at climate adaptation, including coastal areas. The NAFCC finances  the  measures  to  protect  vulnerable  coastal  communities  and  improve their  resilience  to  sea  level  rise.  Besides,  the  Coastal  Regulation  Zone  (CRZ) notifications also aim to manage and regulate development in coastal areas. The CRZ  regulations  help  protect  coastal  ecosystems  and  manage  the  impact  of human activities, thus reducing vulnerability to rising sea levels.
-  State Action Plans: States have also developed their own climate action plan in line with the NAPCC, addressing region-specific vulnerabilities such as extreme weather  events  (floods,  droughts),  drainage  reform,  and  shifting  monsoon patterns.
-  Disaster  Management  and  Early  Warning  Systems:  India  has  strengthened disaster  preparedness  through  its  National  Disaster  Management  Authority (NDMA),  which  works  closely  with  the  India  Meteorological  Department  to minimize  the  impacts  of  extreme  weather  events  (e.g.,  cyclones,  heatwaves, floods).
-  Climate-Resilient Agriculture: The Government has promoted climate-resilient agricultural practices, such as drought-resistant crops, improved water management, and changes in cropping patterns to adapt to shifting rainfall and temperature patterns.
-  Renewable  Energy  Development:  India  is  aggressively  expanding  renewable energy sources, particularly solar and wind, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a low-carbon economy. The country aims to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity by 2030.
-  Water Conservation: With increasing concerns over water scarcity, the Government  has  initiated  various  programs  like  the  Jal  Jeevan  Mission  and National Water Mission to improve water management and ensure sustainable water use, especially in drought-prone regions.
-  Policy and Financial Frameworks: The Government has also integrated climate change considerations into national policies and budgets, aligning with international  climate  agreements  (e.g.,  the  Paris  Agreement).  This  includes setting emission  reduction  targets and  focusing  on  climate  financing for vulnerable sectors.

These  efforts  aim  to  reduce  vulnerabilities  and  prepare  the  country  to  combat  the diverse  impacts  of  climate  change,  from  altered  monsoon  patterns  to  more  frequent extreme weather events and their cascading effects.

- (d) A systematic coordination is in place between IMD, CWC, State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), and the State Irrigation Department. Regular monsoon preparedness  meetings  are  held  between  these  agencies  for  Odisha,  which  is  highly vulnerable to heavy rainfall and floods in the season. IMD, CWC and other stakeholders have  jointly implemented  an  interoperable  environment for generating real-time forecast  and  warning  information  related to  heavy  rainfall-induced  floods.  The  Flood Meteorological  Office  (FMO)  located  at  Bhubneshwar  provides  all  flood-related precipitation data and forecasts for all river catchments in the State. In this regard, IMD supports CWC, SDMA, and the State Irrigation Department by providing observed and forecasted  rainfall  data  and  warnings  using  state-of-the-art  NWP-based  forecasts  and radar-based nowcast systems. Though floods are mainly managed by the CWC, but for all rain-induced Flash Floods-related warnings are currently provided by IMD using a Flash  Floods  Guidance  System  (FFGS)  operational  in  IMD.  The  FFGS  bulletins  are issued  for  the  flash  floods  operationally  considering  the  observed  and  forecasted rainfall, soil moisture, and river conditions. The FFGS bulletin helps in providing early advisories  of  flash  floods.  The  flash  flood  guidance  is  a  robust  system  designed  to provide the necessary products in real-time to support the development of warnings for flash floods about 6-24 hours in advance.

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