NewzVille Desk
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in celebrations of 150th Foundation Day of India Meteorological Department (IMD) today at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, he said the 150 years of the IMD represent not just the journey of the department but also a proud journey of modern science and technology in India. He lauded IMD has served millions of Indians over these one and a half centuries and has become a symbol of India’s scientific progress.
A commemorative postage stamp and coin was also released today about the achievements of IMD.
Modi added that the release of a vision document outlining the future of IMD in 2047, when India will celebrate 100 years of independence. He greeted the citizens on this momentous occasion of 150 years of IMD.
The Prime Minister noted that IMD had organised a National Meteorological Olympiad to engage the youth as part of its 150 years of its journey.
He added that thousands of students participated, which would further increase their interest in meteorology. He recalled his interaction with the youngsters a while ago at the exhibition in the venue and congratulated all the youth who were part of the occasion today.
Highlighting that IMD was set up on 15th January 1875, very close to Makar Sankranti, Modi said “We all know the importance of Makar Sankranti in India’s tradition”. He added that as a person hailing from Gujarat, his favourite festival used to be Makar Sankranti. Explaining further, he said Makar Sankranti marked the sun’s transition into Capricorn and its northward shift, known as Uttarayan. He added that this period signifies the gradual increase in sunlight in the northern hemisphere, leading to preparations for farming.
The Prime Minister noted that Makar Sankranti is celebrated with various cultural expressions across India, from north to south and east to west. He extended his greetings to all citizens on this occasion.
“The progress of a country’s scientific institutions reflects its awareness of science”, exclaimed Prime Minister. He remarked that research and innovation in scientific institutions are integral to New India’s temperament. Over the past decade, he added that IMD’s infrastructure and technology have seen unprecedented expansion, with significant increases in the number of Doppler Weather Radars, Automatic Weather Stations, Runway Weather Monitoring Systems, and District-wise Rainfall Monitoring Stations, all of which have been upgraded.
The Prime Minister highlighted that meteorology in India benefits greatly from space and digital technology. He noted that India has two meteorological observatories in Antarctica, named Maitri and Bharati, and last year, supercomputers Ark and Arunika were introduced, enhancing IMD’s reliability. The Prime Minister announced the launch of ‘Mission Mausam,’ symbolizing India’s commitment to a sustainable future and future readiness, ensuring the country is prepared for all weather conditions and becoming a climate-smart nation.
