The India Meteorological Department (IMD), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has further improved its dedicated mobile application, Mausam, designed to provide accurate weather updates, real-time alerts, and localized forecasts across India.

Launched as part of the government’s digital transformation strategy, the Mausam app continues to gain traction among citizens, farmers, travelers, and emergency planners for its precision, ease of use, and accessibility. The app has been developed jointly by IMD, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and the India Meteorological Department’s National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), Noida.

National-Scale Coverage with Local Precision

The Mausam app provides weather forecasts for more than 450 cities, with hourly updates and forecasts up to seven days. For users in rural and urban districts alike, the app delivers high-resolution Nowcast alerts for extreme weather conditions such as thunderstorms, gusty winds, heavy rainfall, and heatwaves. These alerts are updated every three hours and cover over 800 districts across the country.

With the increasing frequency of heatwaves, cloudbursts, and flash floods in India, the app is proving vital in helping the public plan daily activities, agricultural decisions, and travel.

Key Functionalities and Enhancements

The latest version of the Mausam app includes an improved interface and several notable features:

Current temperature, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction updated in near-real time.
Radar-based weather visualization using Doppler radar images.
Satellite imagery for better understanding of cloud movements and cyclone development.
Color-coded weather warnings (Green, Yellow, Orange, Red) as issued by IMD for different regions.
City-wise sunrise and sunset timing, and moonrise/moonset information.
Dedicated sections for heatwave monitoring and rainfall distribution maps.

These features are particularly relevant given the intensifying summer conditions and ongoing cyclone season. In 2024, IMD issued over 1,000 alerts through the app, many of which contributed to early preparedness during extreme weather events.

Accessibility and Availability

The Mausam app is available for free download on both Android and iOS platforms. Unlike many commercial weather applications, it is advertisement-free and derives its data directly from India’s official meteorological systems.

To use the app, users must allow location permissions to receive personalized alerts. Alternatively, they can manually select their region for updates.

Trusted by Millions, Especially in Agriculture and Public Safety

The Mausam app is increasingly being adopted by farmers who rely on accurate rainfall predictions and temperature readings for their daily operations. Government authorities also utilize the app to issue regional advisories during cyclones or heavy rains.

According to MoES officials, the app is designed to be part of a larger initiative to strengthen India’s disaster resilience and digital public services. The Ministry has stated that future versions may also integrate voice alerts and regional language support to reach wider demographics, including non-English-speaking users.

A Reliable Alternative to Private Weather Apps

Unlike international weather apps that rely on global models, the Mausam app provides forecasts based on Indian terrain, climate patterns, and satellite systems. As a result, it offers more accurate and localized data compared to third-party applications. With over a million downloads and growing user engagement, Mausam is fast becoming the most trusted weather app in India.

Conclusion

At a time when climate variability is increasingly affecting daily life and livelihoods, the Mausam app represents a critical tool for timely weather information. Developed by India’s top scientific institutions and backed by real-time data from IMD’s observational networks, the app is an example of how government-led digital innovation can directly benefit citizens.