India Meteorological Department

What India Meteorological Department does

India Meteorological Department (IMD) is the national meteorological service of India, operating under the Ministry of Earth Sciences since its establishment in 1875. Headquartered at Mausam Bhawan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, IMD delivers weather forecasts, severe-weather warnings, cyclone advisories, climate services, and sector-specific meteorological products to central and state government agencies, the civil aviation sector, agriculture, defence, railways, shipping, and the general public. It serves as India's Permanent Representative to the World Meteorological Organization and as an ICAO-designated Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centre, and hosts the WMO Regional Training Institute at Pune.

IMD's operational technology stack combines Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) on supercomputers, real-time processing of INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR geostationary satellite data (48 passes per satellite daily at 15-minute cadence), a Doppler Weather Radar network (13 operational with 30+9 in the modernization pipeline), an upper-air network of 39 radiosonde and 62 pilot balloon observatories, and extensive AWS/ARG surface stations. Layered applications include the INSAT Multispectral Rainfall Algorithm (IMSRA), a 25-station GNSS network for Integrated Precipitable Water Vapor derivation, the SAFAR/AQEWS air-quality early warning system in four metros, ENFUSER AQ fusion services, and nowcasting systems delivering district and station-level warnings up to three hours ahead. Distribution is multi-channel: seven Regional Meteorological Centres (six historical plus Jammu inaugurated June 2026), state-level Meteorological Centres, 18 Aerodrome Meteorological Offices and 54 Aeronautical Meteorological Stations, 10 Flood Meteorological Offices, the mausam.imd.gov.in portal, a public API at api.imd.gov.in, the Data Service Portal at dsp.imdpune.gov.in, and mobile applications including MAUSAM, Meghdoot, Damini, and UMANG integration.

IMD is funded entirely through government budget allocations to the Ministry of Earth Sciences; weather services are provided as a public good with no commercial pricing structure. Its revenue mechanics are therefore budgetary rather than transactional, and customer concentration manifests as single-funder (MoES) dependence rather than churn risk. Strategic partnerships include ISRO (joint operator of INSAT payloads and co-developer of an S-band DWR at Sriharikota), WMO, ICAO, IITM (SAFAR/AQEWS), Airport Authority of India, the World Bank (Hydrology Project), and emerging bilateral engagements such as the May 2026 collaboration with Malawi.

Name

India Meteorological Department

Legal name

India Meteorological Department

Website

https://mausam.imd.gov.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1875

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

India Meteorological Department is India's national meteorological service under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, providing weather forecasts, cyclone and severe-weather warnings, climate services, and sector-specific advisories to government, aviation, agriculture, railways, and the public through radars, satellites, regional centres, and digital channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Meteorological and Weather Forecasting Services

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (54137), National Security and International Affairs (9281)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Warning, Event Monitoring & Forecasting (Extreme Weather Alerts, Nowcasting) (EUABALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Downscaled Climate Projections & Scenario Analytics (CMIP, SSP/RCP, Regionalization) (EUABALAB), Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM), Flood Risk Modeling, Mapping & Forecasting (Hydrology/Hydraulics, Digital Twins) (EUANAEAH)

Keywords

• Weather forecasting services
• Meteorological observations
• Severe weather warnings
• Climate monitoring services
• Weather data services

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Funding: As a government agency under Ministry of Earth Sciences, IMD is funded through annual government budget allocations for operational expenses, infrastructure development, and modernization programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

India Meteorological Department is the national meteorological service of India delivering weather forecasts, severe weather warnings, and climate services through a comprehensive observation network comprising Doppler Weather Radars, INSAT-3D/3DR satellites, surface and upper-air stations, and Numerical Weather Prediction models. It provides aviation, agriculture, hydrology, marine, and air quality meteorological services to government agencies, businesses, and the general public through digital platforms, mobile applications, APIs, and a network of regional and state meteorological centres.

Product overview

India Meteorological Department (IMD) operates as India's national meteorological service under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, established in 1875. IMD offers a comprehensive suite of weather and climate services through multiple channels including mobile applications (MAUSAM, Meghdoot Agro, Damini Lightning), web platforms (Data Service Portal, city-based weather portals), public APIs for developer integration, and specialized services for aviation, agriculture, marine, and hydrology sectors. The department operates India's Doppler Weather Radar network and processes satellite data from INSAT-3D/3DR for weather monitoring and cyclone tracking. Core services include short to medium-range weather forecasting, cyclone and severe weather warnings, agromet advisories for farmers, air quality forecasting, and specialized forecasts for pilgrimage and tourism sites. IMD also publishes the Rashtriya Panchang (national calendar) and Indian Astronomical Ephemeris through its Positional Astronomy Centre.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MAUSAM: Mobile application for weather forecasting and warnings
• Meghdoot
• Damini Lightning
• UMANG
• Mausamgram
• Rashtriya Panchang
• Indian Astronomical Ephemeris
• GKMS (Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa)

Products and services

• MAUSAM App General weather application providing current weather conditions, forecasts, warnings, and alerts for citizens across India. Available on Android and iOS platforms.
• Meghdoot Agro App Agricultural meteorology mobile application providing weather-based advisory services to farmers, including crop-specific recommendations and pest/disease alerts based on weather conditions.
• Damini Lightning App Lightning detection and warning application that provides real-time lightning alerts to help citizens stay safe during thunderstorms.
• UMANG App Integration Weather services integrated with UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) government services platform for delivering IMD weather information through the national digital services app.
• IMD Weather API Public API platform providing programmatic access to IMD weather warnings, alerts, and meteorological data for developers and third-party applications.
• Data Service Portal Comprehensive portal for accessing historical and real-time meteorological data, rainfall information, and customized weather reports.
• Cyclone Warning Service Cyclone detection, tracking, and warning service providing real-time updates on tropical cyclone formation, movement, and intensity for coastal regions of India.
• Aviation Meteorological Service Weather services for civil aviation including meteorological briefings, forecasts, and real-time weather information for airports and flight operations, meeting ICAO requirements.
• Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva (GKMS) Agricultural meteorology service providing district-level weather-based agro-advisories to farmers for optimal crop management decisions.
• Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS / SAFAR) System for monitoring and forecasting air quality parameters including PM2.5, PM10, Ozone, CO, and other pollutants for major Indian cities.
• Nowcast Warning Service Short-term weather warnings (up to 3 hours) at district and station level for thunderstorms, lightning, heavy rain, and other immediate weather threats.
• Marine Weather Service Marine weather forecasts and warnings for Indian coastal waters, shipping lanes, and maritime operations.
• Heat Wave Warning Service Early warning system for heat wave conditions across India, providing district-wise alerts and guidance for public health protection.
• Flash Flood Bulletin Real-time flash flood forecasting and warning service for vulnerable areas using radar and satellite data integration.
• Rashtriya Panchang National calendar published since 1957-58, providing standardized calendric data including sunrise/sunset timings, tithis, nakshatras, and festivals in multiple Indian languages.
• Indian Astronomical Ephemeris Annual publication providing astronomical data including planetary positions, star data, eclipse predictions, and astronomical phenomena for astronomers and calendar makers.
• ENFUSER AQ Environmental Information Fusion Service combining meteorological and air quality data for comprehensive pollution mapping and forecasting.
• Specialized Pilgrimage Forecasts Weather forecasting services for pilgrimage sites including Amarnath Yatra and Chardham Yatra, providing specialized high-altitude weather information for pilgrim safety.
• Customized Rainfall Information System (CRIS) Portal-based rainfall data system providing district-wise, sub-division-wise, and state-wise rainfall statistics and real-time monitoring.
• CrowdSource Public Observation Citizen weather observation program allowing public participation in reporting local weather conditions to supplement official observations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Round-the-clock weather surveillance and forecasting for entire India with real-time data from 48 satellite passes daily from INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture for INSAT satellite program - IMD is a joint partner along with Department of Space, Department of Telecommunications, All India Radio, and Doordarshan. IMD operates INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR meteorological payloads for weather monitoring. Also collaborated on Doppler Weather Radar development - one S-Band DWR was designed, developed, and installed at Sriharikota under MOU with ISRO.
• World Meteorological Organization (WMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMD serves as India's Permanent Representative to WMO. New Delhi is designated as Regional Telecommunication Hub (RTH) on WMO's Main Telecommunication Network. WMO-Regional Training Institute located at Pune for meteorological training. IMD represents India at WMO Executive Council sessions.
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMD fulfills ICAO requirements for meteorological services to civil aviation. New Delhi ICAO-designated Tropical Cyclone Advisory Centre (TCAC) monitors tropical cyclones for Meteorological Watch Offices in India and neighboring countries.
• Global Telecommunication System (GTS) NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationRTH New Delhi is directly connected with WMC Moscow, RTH Tokyo, RTH Cairo, RTH Beijing, RTH Toulouse, RTH Jeddah, and WMC Melbourne on the Main Telecommunication Network. Also connected to RTHs Bangkok, Tehran and NMCs Colombo, Dhaka, Karachi, Kathmandu, Male, Muscat, Yangon.
• Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, MalawiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelegation from Malawi visited IMD on 13 May 2026 to discuss strengthening collaboration in weather forecasting, disaster preparedness, and climate services between the two countries.
• IITM (Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint project for System for Air Quality Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) operationalized in Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad.
• Airport Authority of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTelecommunication requirements for aviation managed through AAI infrastructure. On-Line Briefing System (OLBS) maintained at international airports.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• UK Met Office: United Kingdom's national meteorological service, operating the Unified Model NWP system, weather radar network, and climate services. Comparable to IMD as a government-funded meteorological service with aviation, public, and research functions.
• Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA): Japan's national meteorological service operating Himawari geostationary satellites, AMeDAS observation network, and typhoon warnings. Directly comparable to IMD in monsoon/typhoon-region forecasting, seismic monitoring, and ICAO-compliant aviation services.
• China Meteorological Administration (CMA): China's national meteorological service operating Fengyun satellites, NWP systems, and a nationwide radar and AWS network. Closest geographic and structural peer to IMD given population scale, tropical-cyclone exposure, and government ownership.
• Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC): Canadian government department responsible for meteorological services, including the Canadian Meteorological Centre, weather radar network, and public weather warnings. Direct peer to IMD as a federal weather service with mandated public and aviation services.
• Météo-France: France's national meteorological service operating ARPEGE and AROME NWP models, radar networks, and public weather services. Comparable to IMD in operating a national observation infrastructure and ICAO-designated aviation met services.
• National Weather Service (NOAA/NWS): The official U.S. national meteorological service, operating Doppler radar (NEXRAD), geostationary satellites (GOES), and NWP models to deliver public weather forecasts, severe weather warnings, and aviation met services. Most direct global counterpart to IMD in scale, mandate, and federal-government structure.
• Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD): Germany's national meteorological service under the Federal Ministry of Transport, providing public weather, aviation, and marine forecasts. Direct peer to IMD with comparable regulatory mandate, ICAO obligations, and climate service responsibilities.
• Bureau of Meteorology (Australia): Australia's national weather, climate, and water agency under the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Direct peer to IMD in delivering national public weather services, severe weather warnings, and aviation meteorology.

Broad incumbents

• AccuWeather: Leading commercial weather forecasting company serving global media, enterprise, and government clients with proprietary forecasts and Severe Weather Awareness products. Represents the commercial-incumbent competitive alternative to IMD's public weather services in India.

Emerging players

• Tomorrow.io (formerly ClimaCell): AI-driven weather intelligence platform using proprietary sensing networks and nowcasting models for aviation, logistics, and on-demand enterprise APIs. Comparable to IMD as a modern weather-data platform pursuing API-first B2B distribution, though operating commercially rather than as a public agency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLeEHd98fYDxjqoVoGRmyzQeJlIVClRQts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries43 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about India Meteorological Department