Lok Sabha Question No. 5335 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-25
Subject: Legislative Reforms, Global Best Practices and Capacity Building in the Meteorological Department
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Shri Parshottambhai Rupala

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5335

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 25 TH  MARCH, 2026

## LEGISLATIVE REFORMS, GLOBAL BEST PRACTICES AND CAPACITY BUILDING IN THE METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT

## 5335.   SHRI PARSHOTTAMBHAI RUPALA:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  considering  introduction  of  a  dedicated  legislation  or statutory reforms to enhance the efficiency, autonomy and functional effectiveness of the Meteorological Department and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has taken cognisance of representations seeking review of meteorological legislations and governance models of foreign Governments including those of Korea, Kenya, Tuvalu, Tanzania, Nauru and Vanuatu to adopt best practices and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  details  of  the  concrete  steps  being  taken  to  attract  skilled  professionals  and strengthen  advanced  research  including  application  of  emerging  technologies  for improving accuracy of local and short-range weather forecasting?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Yes. The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has constituted a committee comprising of  members  from  various  organizations  including  representative  from  Legislative Department, Government of India for the formulation of legal framework for (i) the provision of the Meteorological Services in India and the role of agencies involved in it and (ii) to promote research and development for improving and delivering effective meteorological services.
- (b) Yes. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has suggested that all member countries  develop  appropriate  legislation  for  hydrometeorological  services.  In  this context, a committee constituted by the Ministry has taken note of the legislation of certain foreign Governments, including Korea, Kenya, Tuvalu, Tanzania, Nauru, and Vanuatu, with reference to the efficiency of meteorological services.
- (c) To attract skilled professionals to the Meteorological Department and enhance research activities related to the influence of technology on accurate local weather forecasts, IMD, in coordination with MoES, has taken the following steps:
-  Public Awareness Program.
-  Integrated  Academic  Program  with  various  Universities  and  Institutions. Regular  interaction  and  signing  MoUs  with  the  Centre,  State,  and  private Universities,  and sharing the data  and  HPC for engaging undergraduate and postgraduate students to work in this department remotely and through summer projects.
-  Specific Scientific research projects like Monsoon Mission, Mission Mausam, Thunderstorm  research  testbed,  etc,  are  being  implemented  in  collaboration with State and Central Universities, IITs, etc., to attract young students pursuing master's and PhD.
-  IMD is also extending all support to private and Government Universities to install  AWS, ARGs, and other meteorological observatories to carry out the observation through student participation.
-  IMD advertises regularly for project scientists and research scholar posts meant for young researchers. In that way, a pool of experienced human resources is being developed, facilitating future workforce selection in the various MoES organisations.
-  From  time  to  time,  IMD  and  other  MoES  institutes  have  been  recruiting employees at the level of Scientific Assistant and Scientist B & Scientist C to sustain  and  enhance  their  capabilities  for  delivering  weather  and  climate services.
-  IMD also has mutual cooperation and understanding with other Government Agencies, such as the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and Indian Army, for operational and research activities.

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