Dr Jitendra updates Rajya Sabha about ‘Bharat Forecast System’ for rural weather

Excelsior Correspondent

NEW DELHI, July 24: In a major technological leap aimed at grassroots weather prediction, the Ministry of Earth Sciences has operationalised the Bharat Forecast System (BharatFS) – India’s first indigenously developed high-resolution weather forecasting model designed to deliver hyperlocal alerts down to clusters of panchayats, said Union Minister for Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question to Parliament today. The system is expected to significantly enhance the accuracy and timeliness of weather forecasts, especially in the context of rising climate risks.
Elaborating further, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the BharatFSoperates at an unprecedented 6-km horizontal resolution, making India the only country currently running a global weather model at this level of detail in real time. “This will allow distinct forecasts for every 6-km block across the country, helping communities receive localised advisories for agriculture, disaster management, and water resource planning,” the Minister stated.
The system draws its computing power from India’s recently installed supercomputers – ‘Arka’ at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, and ‘Arunika’ at the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, Noida – which have cut down the forecast generation time from nearly 12 hours to as little as 3 to 6 hours. These faster turnarounds mean that alerts for extreme weather events, such as floods and heavy rainfall, can be issued more swiftly and with greater precision.
According to the Ministry, BharatFS has shown a 30% improvement in accuracy for forecasting extreme rainfall over the monsoon heartland in research trials. This enhanced skill is expected to reduce crop losses and improve resilience, particularly for small and marginal farmers who rely heavily on timely climate information for sowing and harvesting decisions.
Apart from agricultural benefits, the new system is also expected to help authorities better manage reservoirs and respond more effectively to climate-induced disasters. The ability to issue granular alerts could prove critical in a year when extreme weather events – including flash floods and sudden droughts – have become increasingly frequent across states.
What sets BharatFS apart is its completely indigenous development. Built by Indian scientists and institutions, including the IMD, IITM-Pune, and NCMRWF-Noida, the model factors in India’s complex geography – from the Himalayas to the Western Ghats – to improve region-specific forecasting. “The launch of BharatFS is not just a scientific achievement, but a step toward strategic self-reliance in weather and climate services,” Dr. Singh said, linking the initiative to the broader goals of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ missions.
Beyond domestic use, the system’s capabilities are also seen as a tool of regional cooperation, with India positioned to offer advanced meteorological services to neighbouring countries. This could help strengthen India’s role as a regional leader in climate resilience.

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