India’s MHEW-DSS Revolutionizes Disaster Preparedness with Real-Time, Impact-Based Forecasting

In January 2024, the India Meteorological Department launched the Multi-Hazard Early Warning Decision Support System (MHEW-DSS), a landmark digital transformation under Mission Mausam that marks a decisive shift from fragmented forecasting to an integrated, automated, and impact-based approach designed to protect lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure.

The system introduces impact-based forecasting, explaining how weather will affect people, sectors, and communities, while enabling real-time alerts that have reduced forecast preparation time by 50% and improved accuracy by 30%. Its reach has expanded significantly, with location-specific warnings now covering nearly 80% of India’s population. The transformation has also resulted in substantial cost savings, with evacuation costs reduced to one-third compared to 1999. Built in-house, the system has ensured self-reliance, saving ₹250 crore and reducing dependence on foreign vendors.

During Cyclone Biparjoy and Cyclone Dana, MHEW-DSS enabled timely evacuations in Gujarat and Odisha, resulting in zero casualties. Farmers using IMD’s agromet advisories reported 52.5% higher annual income compared to those who did not, and if extended across rain-fed districts, the economic benefit could reach ₹13,331 crore annually.

The system integrates satellite, radar, and ocean buoy data, supported by GIS-based maps for visualization and multi-model forecasting with bias correction. Colour-coded warnings ensure easy public understanding, while forecasts are disseminated through SMS, mobile applications such as Mausam, WhatsApp, APIs, television, radio, and official websites, ensuring last-mile connectivity even in rural areas.

MHEW-DSS has achieved national reach, with over 200 organizations, including the National Disaster Management Authority and NITI Aayog, relying on it for decision-making. On the global stage, IMD provides cyclone and severe weather advisories to countries across the North Indian Ocean and Asi

a-Pacific. Its impact has been widely recognized through the National Award for e-Governance (2025), the UN Sasakawa Award (2025), and the ET GovTech Award (2026).

The system plays a critical role in protecting coastal communities from cyclones, helping farmers plan sowing and irrigation, supporting renewable energy management, strengthening public health during heatwaves, and saving resources while reducing environmental impact. As climate risks intensify, MHEW-DSS stands as a defining advancement in India’s disaster management framework, reinforcing resilience through technology-driven preparedness.