Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, recently called for a shift in how we approach weather forecasting in India. At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, he emphasized the importance of mixing Artificial Intelligence (AI) with traditional weather models to tackle increasing climate unpredictability.
During his talk, Dr. Ravichandran explained that while traditional models provide a broad overview, AI helps to understand local weather patterns better. He said, “We need to track not just the elephant—the large systems of weather—but also the ant sitting on that elephant.” This highlights the growing complexity of weather events, like sudden storms and floods, which demand more precise forecasting.
With climate change causing more extreme weather—like urban floods and Himalayan cloudbursts—India’s forecasting methods need to evolve. We need quicker local alerts, detailed predictions, and better preparation for disasters. Dr. Ravichandran suggested that combining AI with existing models could enhance our forecasting abilities rather than replacing them.
One critical area is improving initial conditions in models, which often rely on assumptions that can lead to inaccuracies. AI can help reduce these biases and improve our predictions, especially for extreme weather events. This could greatly enhance India’s early warning systems.
India has a rich meteorological history, with nearly 150 years of data from the India Meteorological Department. Dr. Ravichandran believes this data should be more accessible to foster innovation in climate resilience.
Another exciting development is AI’s ability to create localized forecasts at a resolution of just 1 kilometer. This will be invaluable for district-level disaster management, agriculture, and urban planning, particularly concerning flood risks and heatwaves.
However, as we integrate AI into forecasting, Dr. Ravichandran warned that we must build trust in these systems. Validation, verification, and ethical practices will be essential to ensure the reliability of AI insights for public safety.
He also called for collaboration among various disciplines—data scientists, biologists, and researchers to tackle climate challenges from different angles. Only a multi-disciplinary approach will help us build a resilient future in the face of climate extremes.
Bringing together experts in governance, industry, and academia, this discussion emphasized a vital goal: to combine India’s scientific expertise with AI to create fast, accurate, and dependable weather forecasting systems. In a world where extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, improving our forecasting capabilities could save lives and protect communities across India.
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Artificial Intelligence, Climate Extremes, MoES, IMD Data, Weather Forecasting, AI Downscaling, Disaster Resilience, India AI Impact Summit 2026, Climate Innovation, Sustainable Systems
