What happened?
India is commemorating 150 years of the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Established in 1875 during the British colonial era, the IMD will complete 150 years of service on 15th January 2025. To mark this historic occasion, India has also invited officials from countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh (who were part of undivided British India) and other neighbouring countries like Nepal, Afghanistan, Myanmar, etc.
Why it matters to India
On January 14, 2025, while describing IMD as a symbol of India’s scientific journey, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled ‘Mission Mausam’ and released IMD’s Vision-2047 document for weather resilience and climate change adaptation in a push towards making India a climate-smart nation while underscoring India’s commitment towards a sustainable future and climate readiness. It is worth noting that IMD’s flash flood guidance system has been providing critical information to neighbouring countries, including Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, over the years.