UPSC Prelims 2026Question 84Geography

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:

Options

(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer: a

Decision rule

Operational weather and earth-science models come from Ministry of Earth Sciences institutes - IITM Pune, NCMRWF - not from the IITs.

Explanation

Correct Answer

(a) 1 only

Explanation of the Correct Answer

The Bharat Forecast System / Bharat Forecasting System (BharatFS) is India’s indigenous high-resolution numerical weather prediction model.
It was launched by the Government of India in May 2025 to generate more localized and accurate weather forecasts.
It has a spatial resolution of about 6 km, compared to the earlier 12 km resolution of the Global Forecasting System.
This finer resolution enables forecasts down to the panchayat / cluster of panchayats level, especially useful for rainfall, agriculture, disaster preparedness, and extreme weather warnings. (Press Information Bureau)

Therefore, Statement 1 is correct.

However, it was not developed by IIT Delhi. It was developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. (Meteorological Technology International)

Therefore, Statement 2 is incorrect.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option	Verdict	Explanation
(a) 1 only	Correct	BharatFS aims to provide forecasts at the panchayat / cluster of panchayats level, but it was developed by IITM Pune, not IIT Delhi.
(b) 2 only	Incorrect	Statement 2 is wrong because the model was developed by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune.
(c) Both 1 and 2	Incorrect	Only Statement 1 is correct; Statement 2 is incorrect.
(d) Neither 1 nor 2	Incorrect	Statement 1 is correct because BharatFS is meant for high-resolution local forecasts, including panchayat-cluster-level forecasting.

Relevant Supplementary Information

Bharat Forecast System: Key Facts

Parameter	Details
Full name	Bharat Forecast System / Bharat Forecasting System
Launched by	Government of India / Ministry of Earth Sciences
Launch period	May 2025
Developed by	Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune
Operational use by	India Meteorological Department
Resolution	Around 6 km
Earlier model resolution	Around 12 km
Main objective	High-resolution localized weather forecasting
Local-level utility	Panchayat / cluster of panchayats level forecasts
Major uses	Rainfall forecast, agriculture, disaster management, cyclone warning, heatwave warning, flood preparedness

BharatFS vs Earlier Forecasting System

Feature	Earlier Forecasting System	Bharat Forecast System
Resolution	Around 12 km	Around 6 km
Forecast detail	Broader regional-level prediction	More localized prediction
Village-level relevance	Limited	Stronger relevance
Extreme weather prediction	Less precise for localized events	Better for localized rainfall and extreme events
Usefulness for agriculture	General advisory	More location-specific advisory
Disaster preparedness	Broader alerts	More targeted alerts

Key Takeaways from the Tables

BharatFS = high-resolution indigenous weather model.
Its resolution is about 6 km, enabling more localized forecasting.
It aims to support panchayat / cluster of panchayats level forecasts.
It was developed by IITM Pune, not IIT Delhi.
The model strengthens India’s capacity in weather forecasting, agriculture advisories, and disaster preparedness.

Point	Explanation
BharatFS is indigenous	It represents India’s own high-resolution weather forecasting capability.
Developed by IITM Pune	The model was not developed by IIT Delhi.
Used operationally by IMD	IMD converts scientific model outputs into public forecasts and warnings.
6 km resolution is important	It enables more localized forecasting than older 12 km systems.
Panchayat-level relevance is the core idea	BharatFS aims to make weather forecasts useful for local governance, farmers, and disaster managers.
Weather forecasting uses multiple tools	Models, satellites, radars, automatic weather stations, and apps work together.
Forecasting supports public safety	It is crucial for heatwaves, cyclones, heavy rainfall, lightning, floods, and agriculture.

Context and Current Relevance

BharatFS is important for India because localized weather events such as cloudbursts, heavy rainfall, heatwaves, and floods require more precise forecasting.
It supports sectors directly affected by weather, especially agriculture, disaster management, aviation, water management, and public safety.
It reflects India’s push for indigenous meteorological capability under a broader self-reliance approach.

Table: Important Weather Forecasting Systems and Institutions in India

System / Institution	Full Form / Name	Associated Ministry / Body	Main Function
BharatFS	Bharat Forecast System / Bharat Forecasting System	Ministry of Earth Sciences	High-resolution indigenous weather forecasting
IMD	India Meteorological Department	Ministry of Earth Sciences	Official weather forecasting and warnings agency of India
IITM Pune	Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune	Ministry of Earth Sciences	Climate and weather modelling research; developed BharatFS
NCMRWF	National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting	Ministry of Earth Sciences	Medium-range numerical weather prediction
INCOIS	Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services	Ministry of Earth Sciences	Ocean forecasts, tsunami warnings, marine advisories
NCCR	National Centre for Coastal Research	Ministry of Earth Sciences	Coastal process and coastal hazard studies
C-DAC	Centre for Development of Advanced Computing	Ministry of Electronics and IT	Supercomputing support for weather and climate models
ISRO	Indian Space Research Organisation	Department of Space	Weather satellites, remote sensing, cyclone monitoring
Mausam App	IMD weather app	IMD	City-wise weather forecasts and warnings
Meghdoot App	Agromet advisory app	IMD, ICAR, IITM	Weather-based agricultural advisories
Damini App	Lightning alert app	IITM Pune	Lightning alerts and safety warnings

Table: Bharat Forecast System: Key Features

Feature	Details	Importance
Nature	Indigenous high-resolution weather model	Reduces dependence on external forecasting systems
Developed by	Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune	Shows India’s domestic modelling capability
Operational use	India Meteorological Department	Helps convert model outputs into public forecasts
Resolution	Around 6 km	Enables more localized weather prediction
Earlier broad resolution	Around 12 km	BharatFS improves spatial detail
Forecast level	Panchayat / cluster of panchayats level	Useful for local governance and disaster response
Primary use	Weather forecasting	Improves accuracy of rainfall, temperature, wind and extreme weather forecasts
Important beneficiaries	Farmers, disaster managers, local administrations, aviation, fisheries, public	Supports timely decision-making

Table: BharatFS vs Earlier Forecasting Models

Parameter	Earlier Forecasting Models	Bharat Forecast System
Resolution	Around 12 km	Around 6 km
Forecast precision	Relatively broader	More localized
Local-level usefulness	District or regional level	Panchayat / cluster level
Extreme weather tracking	Less detailed for micro-level variation	Better for localized rainfall, storms, heatwaves
Agricultural advisories	General area-based advisories	More location-specific advisories
Disaster management	Broader alerts	More targeted alerts
Governance use	State and district planning	Panchayat-level preparedness and response
Strategic value	Dependent on older modelling framework	Indigenous high-resolution capability

Table: Weather Forecasting Tools and Their Uses

Tool / System	Used For	Example of Use
Numerical Weather Prediction Models	Mathematical simulation of atmosphere	Forecasting rainfall, temperature, wind, pressure
Doppler Weather Radar	Tracking clouds, storms, rainfall intensity	Nowcasting thunderstorms and cyclones
Weather Satellites	Large-scale atmospheric observation	Monitoring cyclones, cloud cover, sea surface temperature
Automatic Weather Stations	Local weather data collection	Measuring temperature, humidity, wind, rainfall
Agromet Advisory Services	Weather-based farm guidance	Advising sowing, irrigation, pesticide spraying
Lightning Detection Network	Detecting lightning activity	Sending lightning alerts through apps like Damini
Ocean Forecast Systems	Sea and coastal forecasts	Advisories for fishermen, ports, and coastal authorities

Table: Important Weather and Climate Apps / Portals in India

App / Portal	Developed / Managed By	Purpose
Mausam App	IMD	Weather forecasts, warnings, radar images
Meghdoot App	IMD, ICAR, IITM	Crop and location-specific agromet advisories
Damini App	IITM Pune	Lightning alerts and lightning safety information
UMANG Weather Services	Government of India	Access to weather-related public services
IMD Website	IMD	Official forecasts, warnings, cyclone updates
INCOIS Ocean State Forecast	INCOIS	Ocean state, wave, wind and fishery advisories
Sagar Vani	INCOIS	Ocean information and alerts for coastal communities
FASAL	Ministry of Agriculture and related agencies	Crop forecasting using remote sensing and weather data

Table: Forecast Types by Time Range

Forecast Type	Approximate Time Range	Purpose
Nowcast	Next few hours	Thunderstorms, lightning, heavy rainfall alerts
Short-range forecast	Up to 3 days	Daily weather planning and warnings
Medium-range forecast	3 to 10 days	Agriculture, irrigation, disaster preparedness
Extended-range forecast	10 days to 4 weeks	Monsoon breaks, heatwave spells, rainfall trends
Seasonal forecast	One season or more	Monsoon outlook, drought risk, temperature anomaly

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