Lok Sabha Question No. 4387 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Panchayat Level Weather Forecasting
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Smt. Delkar Kalaben Mohanbhai, Shri Gyaneshwar Patil

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4387 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 20 TH AUGUST, 2025

## PANCHAYAT LEVEL WEATHER FORECASTING

## †4387. SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL: SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of States in which the Government has implemented Panchayat level weather forecast system/initiative;
- (b) the details of equipment for example RADAR, satellite etc. being used at present under this  initiative  in  various  States  including  in  the  State  of  Madhya  Pradesh  and  Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli for monitoring local weather conditions;
- (c) whether monitoring local weather conditions becomes challenging due to lack of Doppler RADAR in various States including in Madhya Pradesh and Dadra and Nagar Haveli;
- (d) the details of steps taken by the Government to ensure effective implementation of this initiative; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  been  formulating  any  measures  to  implement  effective hourly  weather  forecast  system  at  Panchayat  level  including  in  the  State  of  Madhya Pradesh and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has launched the Gram Panchayat Level Weather Forecasting  (GPLWF)  initiative.  The  India  Meteorological  Department  (IMD),  in collaboration  with  the  Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj  (MoPR),  launched  the  GPLWF  for nearly all Gram Panchayats across the country on 24 th October 2024.
- (b) At  present,  monitoring  of  local  weather  conditions  across  the  county,  including  Dadra Nagar Haveli, is done through various instruments, including satellites (INSAT-3DR & 3DS), Radars, Radio Sondes, Automatic Weather Station (AWS), etc.
- (c)-(d)  Yes.  The  monitoring  of  local  weather  conditions  is  challenging.  However,  with  the improvement in the meteorological weather observation network, including radars in the country in recent years, the monitoring and early warning of local weather has improved substantially. With the enhancement in the radar network and other observation networks in  the  coming  years,  the  monitoring  and  early  warning  of  local  weather  conditions, particularly severe weather conditions, will further improve.

Currently, DWR coverage is available for a large part of the country (about 87% of the total area of the country). More radars as per the requirement will be established in the coming years so that the remaining gap areas are covered and provide redundancy.

- (e) The gram panchayat level weather forecasts are accessible on digital platforms such as eGramswaraj  (https://egramswaraj.gov.in/), the  Meri  panchayat  app,  e-Manchitra  of MoPR, and Mausamgram of IMD (https://mausamgram.imd.gov.in/). The main aims and objectives of the GPLWF are to provide weather forecasts up to Gram Panchayat Levels, covering  critical  parameters  such  as  temperature,  rainfall,  humidity,  wind,  and  cloud conditions-essential  data  that  farmers  need  for  informed  decision-making  regarding sowing,  harvesting,  and  irrigation.  The  platform  makes  weather  forecast  information accessible  anytime  and  anywhere  at  the  panchayat  level  across  the  country,  including Madhya Pradesh. This weather information reaches a larger number of people through Pashu Sakhis and Krishi Sakhis under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Ministry of Rural Development, as well as other Self Help Groups (SHGs). The GPLWF helps farmers to have access to localized weather information available hourly for up to a 36-hour lead period, 3-hourly from 36 hours to the next five days, and every 6 hours from the next 5 days to 10 days.

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