Context:
India Meteorological Department (IMD) will complete 150 years of service on January 15 2025.
India Meteorological Department (IMD):
- One of the earliest government departments created for systematic observation, regular reporting, and scientific forecasting of weather in the Indian subcontinent.
- Established in – 1875.
- Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Earth Sciences
- Headquarters – New Delhi
- Also has 6 Regional Meteorological Centres (RMCs) across six regions of the country
- Objective – To make meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and seismology for the Indian Subcontinent.
- Functions –
- Provide meteorological information for optimum operation of weather-sensitive activities like agriculture, irrigation, shipping, aviation, offshore oil explorations, etc.
- Warns against severe weather phenomena like tropical cyclones, heavy rains and snow, cold and heat waves, etc.
- Acts as the regional nodal agency for forecasting, naming, and providing warnings about tropical cyclones in the Indian Ocean north of the Equator.
- Responsible for setting up monitoring centres at key locations for earthquake monitoring and measurements.
- Serves as one of the 6 Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres of the World Meteorological Organization.
World Meteorological Organization (WMO):
- HQ: Geneva, Switzerland.
- An intergovernmental organization established by the ratification of the WMO Convention in 1950.
- Origin – International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was established after the 1873 Vienna International Meteorological Congress.
- Members – 193 Member States and Territories (India is a member)
- It is a specialized agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences.
- Supreme body – World Meteorological Congress.
- Annual reports – State of the Global Climate report, WMO Air Quality and Climate Bulletin etc.
Source: IMD
Previous Year Question
“Climate Action Tracker” which monitors the emission reduction pledges of different countries is a:
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2022 Prelims]
(a) Database created by coalition of research organisations
(b) Wing of “International Panel of Climate Change”
(c) Committee under “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change”
(d) Agency promoted and financed by United Nations Environment Programme and World Bank
Answer: (a)