Lok Sabha Question No. 4141 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Climate Resilience Strategies
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Mrs Ruchi Vira

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4141 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 18 TH  MARCH, 2026

## CLIMATE RESILIENCE STRATEGIES

## †4141. MRS RUCHI VIRA:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has reviewed the preparedness and effectiveness of climate adaptation  and  disaster  risk  reduction  measures  for  farmers,  urban  population  and vulnerable groups across the country particularly Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh in the context of increasing heat waves, erratic rainfall, water crisis incidents and their combined impacts;
- (b) if so, the details of the efforts made by the Government in the form of climate resilience strategies, early warning systems, heat-action plans, water conservation measures and district level capacity building initiatives in the district, district-wise; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)-(b)  Yes. The Government of India through Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) institutions and India Meteorological Department (IMD) has undertaken continuous monitoring & rigorous review about preparedness and effectiveness of climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures for various desired targeted vulnerable groups/communities of the country including that of Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh in close co-operation with  the  local/State  Government  allied  departments  &  agencies  to  address  the multilateral impacts & challenges offered due to increasing heat waves, erratic rainfall, water stress and related climate risks.

The  interventions  undertaken  by  the  India  Meteorological  Department  under  the Ministry  have  significantly  contributed  to  measurable  socio-economic  benefits  for farmers,  fishermen,  vulnerable  communities,  and  the  general  public,  particularly  in disaster-prone  and  climate-sensitive  areas,  including  Moradabad  district  of  Uttar Pradesh. The manner in which these benefits have accrued is as follows:

Improved Agricultural Planning and Productivity: District-level  and  block-level weather forecasts, agrometeorological advisories, and seasonal outlooks enable farmers to make  informed  decisions  regarding  sowing,  irrigation,  fertilizer  application, harvesting, and crop protection. This has resulted in reduced crop losses, optimized input costs, and improved yields.

Reduction in Loss of Life and Property: Early warnings related to cyclones, heavy rainfall,  heat  waves,  cold  waves,  thunderstorms,  and  lightning  have  enabled  timely evacuation, preparedness measures, and contingency planning. This has substantially minimized casualties and damage to livelihoods.

Heatwave and Cold Wave Action Plans: Forecast-based  advisories  have  enabled local administrations to implement heat action plans, adjust working hours, and ensure access to drinking water and shelters, thereby protecting outdoor workers, the elderly, and economically weaker sections.

Support to Disaster Management Authorities: Impact-based forecasting and realtime  monitoring  support  State  and  district  administrations  in  planning  relief  and response  operations.  Early  action  reduces  recovery  costs  and  safeguards  vulnerable communities.

Climate  Services  for  Long-term  Resilience  and  Anticipatory  Action  against Climate Risk: Climate  data  services  and  seasonal  forecasts  assist  policymakers  in water  resource  management,  crop  insurance  planning,  reservoir  operations,  and infrastructure preparedness, contributing to long-term socio-economic resilience.

The measurable benefits are reflected in reduced disaster-related mortality, lower crop losses,  improved  marine  safety,  and  enhanced  preparedness  at  community  and administrative levels. Continuous modernization of forecasting systems and expansion of dissemination channels through mobile applications, SMS alerts, and coordination with State agencies further strengthen outreach to affected populations.

The India Meteorological Department, in collaboration with various research centers across the country, has undertaken several initiatives to enhance monitoring and early warning systems across the country, including urban climate platforms. These efforts have  significantly  contributed  to  minimizing  the  loss  of  life  and  property  during extreme weather events, including heat waves. These include:

-  Heat Action Plans (HAPs) in 23 States that are prone to heatwave conditions were  jointly  implemented  by  the  National  Disaster  Management  Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with the State Governments.
-  Issuing seasonal and monthly outlooks, followed by extended-range forecasts of  temperature  and  heatwave  conditions.  The  early  warning  and  forecast information are also disseminated through various social media platforms for timely public outreach.
-  District-wise heatwave vulnerability Atlas over India to help State Government authorities and disaster management agencies in planning.
-  The  hot  weather  hazard  analysis  map  of  India  incorporates  daily  data  on temperature, wind patterns, and humidity levels.
-  A  series  of  National  and  State-level  heatwave  preparedness  meetings  are conducted much before the start of the summer season, with regular review meetings from time to time during the season.

IMD has also brought out a web-based "Climate Hazard & Vulnerability Atlas of India" prepared for the thirteen most hazardous meteorological events, which cause extensive damage  and  economic,  human,  and  animal  losses.  The  same  can  be  accessed  at https://imdpune.gov.in/hazardatlas/abouthazard.html.  The  atlas  provides  information that  may  assist  State  Government  authorities  and  disaster  management  agencies  in identifying potential hotspots and in planning appropriate measures to address extreme weather events. This product is helpful in building Climate change-resilient infrastructure.

IMD has been  using  all  the  latest  available  communication  systems  for  improving outreach.  Early  warning  dissemination  has  been  strengthened  through  official  IMD websites, API-based direct to the users, Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), WhatsApp groups,  mobile  applications,  web  portals,  SMS  alerts,  and  closer  coordination  with disaster management authorities. Social Media Platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, X, and Instagram have been widely used by IMD. Also, IMD uses the following Apps:

-  MAUSAM App for weather forecasting and warnings
-  MEGHDOOT App for agro met services
-  DAMINI App (developed by IITM) for lighting warning
-  UMANG App (developed by MeitY) for Weather forecasting and warnings

To ensure localised relevance and last-mile connectivity of weather updates in remote and  vulnerable  regions,  IMD,  in  collaboration  with  the  Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj (MoPR), has recently launched Panchayat-level weather forecasts covering nearly all Gram Panchayats in India. These forecasts are accessible through digital platforms such as  e-Gramswaraj  (https://egramswaraj.gov.in),  Meri  Panchayat  app,  e-Manchitra  of MoPR, and Mausamgram of IMD, MoES (https://mausamgram.imd.gov.in). The main aims and objectives of Gram Panchayat Level Weather Forecasting (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 is making weather forecast information accessible anytime and anywhere at the panchayat level across the country. This weather information reaches a larger number of people through Pashu Sakhis and Krishi Sakhis under the Ministries of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development.

To further advance weather and climate services in India, IMD conducts multiple Statelevel stakeholder consultation workshops with various State Government departments. These engagements include users from agriculture, water resources, energy, disaster management, transport, aviation, media, health, urban planning, and local communities.  The  discussions  help  identify  practical  gaps,  emerging  needs,  and opportunities to improve the usability, accessibility, and reach of weather and climate services across the country. Numerous  efforts have been undertaken by the Government of India through IMD and other MoES institutions to strengthen climate resilience through effective early warning systems, heat-action plans, sectoral disaster management  plans,  and  district-level  preparedness.  Further  details  are  given  in Annexure-1.

- (c) Does not arise.

Multi Hazard Impact Based Forecasting and Risk Based Early Warning Services: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) as part of its operational mandate not only used  to  generate  and  publish  various  Met  Monograms  in  the  form  of  State Climatological  Summary,  Climatological  Normals,  Climatological  Atlases,  Annual Climate Statement, Climate Hazard & Vulnerability Atlas of UP, Monsoon Report etc. based on the long term data base towards monitoring and analysis of weather over the state of Uttar Pradesh including Moradabad; but also provides Multi-Hazard impactbased weather forecasts and Risk based early  warning services in seamless manner covering all spatio-temporal scales at par with the Global standards. In order to cater the  needs  of  the  seamless  forecasting  IMD  used  to  issue  qualitative  monthly  and seasonal outlook for rainfall as well as maximum and minimum temperatures including outlooks on heat waves and cold waves at regional scale; followed by weekly Extended Range Forecast for 02 weeks at zonal/sub-divisional scale; followed by Daily Medium Range  Forecast  for  a  week  at  district/subdistrict  scale  and  Sub-daily  Nowcasts  at hyperlocal level to enable various stakeholders, disaster managers and administrative authorities to enable preparedness, response-mechanism, plan for anticipatory actions & to mitigate climate-related risk appropriately.

Meteorological  Infrastructure  Development  &  Upgradations: As  an  effective initiative to monitor and track the extreme weather and climate events such as extreme rainfall, heat waves and floods for the state of Uttar Pradesh and to improve disaster preparedness and weather forecasting of the state recently IMD, GoI and GoUP has taken joint initiative and signed an MoU for improving weather observation network in  UP.  Associated  with  this,  22  automated  instruments  (06-  AWS  +  16-ARG)  (all quipped with temperature, humidity and rainfall sensors) have already been established and commissioned in Moradabad district in addition to the pre-existing IMD network of 01 AWS & 01 PTO.

Technological  Advancements  towards  OUTREACH: MoES,  along  with its institutions,  also  used  to  fund  various  projects  like  Monsoon  Mission  and  recently launched Mission Mausam to carry out studies pertaining to understanding the causes of  extreme  weather  and  climate  events  such  as  extreme  rainfall,  heat  waves,  and cyclones in the country, including the State of Uttar Pradesh, during recent years. As a revolutionary  step  to  ensure  effective  outreach,  the  IMD  recently  launched  a  GISenabled Decision Support System with sector-specific applications designed to enable timely, actionable responses for targeted sectors/end users. This is being popularised by UPSDMA, UPCAR & State Agriculture department among local authorities and disaster managers through their bulletins, newsletters,  and  proceedings for efficient implementation in the true spirit.

Climate Resilient Strategies and Capacity Building: As an initiative towards this community-level awareness programmes and online webinars are being organised for administrators, disaster managers and potential stakeholders time to time under various programs and schemes such as under Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme, time to time Farmer Awareness Program at Moradabad are being conducted by AMFU Meerut & SAMC Lucknow in physical/virtual mode.

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