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India's Advanced Weather Prediction Capabilities

Science & Technology

  • PYQs6
  • Articles1
I

Background

This concept is crucial for understanding India's scientific and technological advancements, particularly in critical areas like disaster management, agricultural planning, and water resource management. It demonstrates India's self-reliance and regional leadership in meteorological services, aligning with national strategic and economic goals.

India has significantly enhanced its meteorological services through the development and implementation of advanced weather prediction systems like the Bharat Forecast System (BharatFS). These systems leverage cutting-edge supercomputing and modeling techniques to provide high-resolution, localized weather forecasts crucial for various sectors.

II

Facts & tables

Resolution
6 km horizontal resolution (global operational model)
Grid System
Triangular Cubic Octahedral (TCo) dynamical grid
Supercomputing Support
Arka (IITM-Pune) and Arunika (NCMRWF-Noida)
Indigenous Development
Developed by IITM-Pune, NCMRWF-Noida, IMD, aligning with 'Make in India'
Static syllabus anchors
Type Reference
Conceptual area Science & Technology
Conceptual area Disaster Management
Conceptual area Indian Geography
Institutions & roles
Body Role
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM-Pune) Developed
National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF-Noida) Supported development
India Meteorological Department (IMD) Supported development, utilizes system
III

Prelims angle

Prelims angle: Statement-based questions

Prelims angle: Factual recall

  • BharatFS: India's 6km resolution global weather prediction model.
  • Uses Triangular Cubic Octahedral (TCo) grid and MoES supercomputers (Arka, Arunika).
  • Provides localized forecasts (panchayat/village level) for agriculture and water management.
  • Significantly improves extreme rainfall prediction, aiding disaster preparedness.
  • Indigenous development by IITM, NCMRWF, IMD, aligning with 'Make in India'.
High-confidence PYQ links
Year Framing tags
2026 Statement-based questions, Factual recall
2026 Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
2026 Statement-based questions, Factual recall
2025 Statement-based questions, Factual recall
2018 Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
2018 Conceptual understanding, Terminology-based question

Timeline

  1. Science & Technology

    Conceptual area

  2. Disaster Management

    Conceptual area

  3. Indian Geography

    Conceptual area

  4. Prelims 2018

    Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

  5. Prelims 2018

    Conceptual understanding, Terminology-based question

  6. Prelims 2025

    Statement-based questions, Factual recall

  7. Prelims 2026

    Statement-based questions, Factual recall

  8. Prelims 2026

    Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

  9. Prelims 2026

    Statement-based questions, Factual recall

  10. PARLIAMENT QUESTION: BHARAT FORECAST SYSTEM

    BharatFS is India's new 6km resolution global weather prediction model, using TCo grid and supercomputers (Arka, Arunika). It provides localized forecasts for agriculture, water management, and improved extreme weather prediction, enhancing disaster preparedness and showcasing India's indigenous tech capabilities.

See also

India's Advanced Weather Prediction Capabilities

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Past papers

In the news

pib.gov.in

PARLIAMENT QUESTION: BHARAT FORECAST SYSTEM

BharatFS is India's new 6km resolution global weather prediction model, using TCo grid and supercomputers (Arka, Arunika). It provides localized forecasts for agriculture, water management, and improved extreme weather prediction, enhancing disaster preparedness and showcasing India's indigenous tech capabilities.

Try these PYQs

UPSC Prelims 2026 hard Science & Technology Open full page

Which of the following statements with regard to India's indigenous new high resolution weather model, the 'Bharat Forecast System,' is/are correct?

1. Its objective is to generate forecasts at the Panchayats cluster level.
2. It was developed by IIT Delhi.

Select the answer using the code given below:

UPSC Prelims 2025 easy Science & Technology Open full page

GPS-Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) uses a system of ground stations to provide necessary augmentation. Which of the following statements is/are correct in respect of GAGAN?

I. It is designed to provide additional accuracy and integrity.
II. It will allow more uniform and high quality air traffic management.
III. It will provide benefits only in aviation but not in other modes of transportation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

UPSC Prelims 2026 easy Science & Technology Open full page

Which of the following statements with regard to Large Language Models (LLMs) used in machine learning is/are correct ?

1. LLMs assign probabilities to the next possible words and then pick the one with the highest probability.
2. LLMs process data through mathematical optimization to minimise prediction errors.
3. LLMs produce unbiased outputs.

Select the answer using the code given below :

UPSC Prelims 2018 easy Science & Technology Open full page

In which of the following areas can GPS technology be used?
1. Mobile phone operations
2. Banking operations
3. Controlling the power grids

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

UPSC Prelims 2018 easy Science & Technology Open full page

When the alarm of your smartphone rings in the morning, you wake up and tap it to stop the alarm which causes your geyser to be switched on automatically. The smart mirror in your bathroom shows the day's weather and also indicates the level of water in your overhead tank. After you take some groceries from your refrigerator for making breakfast, it recognises the shortage of stock in it and places an order for the supply of fresh grocery items. When you step out of your house and lock the door, all lights, fans, geysers and AC machines get switched off automatically. On your way to the office, your car warns you about traffic congestion ahead and suggests an alternative route, and if you are late for a meeting, it sends a- message to your office accordingly.
In the context of emerging communication technologies, which one of the following term best applies to the above scenario?

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UPSC Prelims 2026 medium Science & Technology Open full page

Consider the following statements about Mission Sudarshan Chakra of India:

1. It aims to enhance India's air defence, ballistic missile defence and aerial offensive capabilities.
2. This Mission is being designed to enhance rapid, precise, and powerful defence responses, reinforcing India's strategic autonomy.
3. One of the aims of this Mission is to cover all public places of India by an expanded nationwide security shield by 2035.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?