Climate change has emerged as a major challenge affecting ecosystems, agriculture, livelihoods, infrastructure, and disaster resilience across the world. In this context, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated into climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. India is leveraging AI technologies for weather forecasting, disaster risk reduction, climate modelling, flood forecasting, forest surveillance, groundwater mapping, and sustainable urban governance.The issue gained attention during the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, hosted at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 16–20 February 2026. The summit is significant as it is the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, anchored around the pillars of People, Planet, and Progress.
India is increasingly using AI-enabled systems to improve preparedness against climate-induced disasters such as cyclones, floods, landslides, heatwaves, and extreme weather events.
India has significantly strengthened cyclone forecasting through AI-assisted technologies and high-performance computing systems.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) uses the Advanced Dvorak Technique along with satellite-based AI tools to estimate cyclone intensity and track tropical cyclones.The system helps in:
IMD also uses AI-based guidance from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) for improved forecasting accuracy.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences has installed High-Power Computing Systems with 22 PetaFLOPS capacity for advanced weather prediction and AI research.Important features include:
These systems strengthen India’s capability in:
Indian researchers have developed transformer-based neural networks capable of forecasting monsoon behaviour up to 18 days in advance.
Comparative studies involving AI systems such as:
have demonstrated:
These advancements improve:
The Spatially Aware Domain Adaptation Network (SpADANet) developed by IIT Bombay is an AI model used for cyclone and hurricane damage assessment through aerial imagery.Key significance:
It addresses constraints such as:
Researchers at IIT Madras use Reliability Ensemble Averaging (REA) to improve climate prediction accuracy.The model:
Testing was conducted in:
The findings highlighted limitations in many existing rainfall prediction models and showcased the improved reliability of REA.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has:
IMD also organizes annual AI and Machine Learning training programmes.
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune operates a virtual centre for developing AI-based weather and climate applications.
India has developed an AI-based landslide early warning system for Himalayan regions.
The system has been installed at:
It detects millimetre-level slope movements and improves evacuation preparedness.
The Indian Land Data Assimilation System (ILDAS) funded by ISRO (2021–24) estimates:
It integrates:
Provides impact-based flood forecasting for the Brahmaputra Basin.
A climate-impact assessment toolbox for:
These systems improve:
Launched by IMD in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, this initiative provides:
The service reaches nearly all Gram Panchayats in India through:
It helps farmers make informed decisions regarding:
Launched on 27 May 2025, BharatFS is an indigenous weather prediction model.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Forecast Resolution | 6 km |
| Previous Resolution | 12 km |
| Forecast Horizon | Up to 10 days |
| Coverage | Village-level |
The system enhances:
The government is developing MausamGPT, a Generative Pre-trained Transformer-based AI chatbot for:
AI is also being used for:
AI systems are being used for:
These tools assist:
in preparing for long-term climate risks.
AI-enabled surveillance systems use:
AI systems help detect and contain fires rapidly.The article highlights that:
AI-enabled cameras detect animals moving outside forests.
AI assists in detecting:
These systems strengthen conservation governance and protect natural carbon sinks.
The AIRAWAT Research Foundation of IIT Kanpur signed an MoU with IIT Delhi to develop AI-driven solutions for:
The initiative supports climate-resilient urban governance.
Researchers at IIT Kharagpur developed an AI-based model to detect arsenic contamination in groundwater along the Ganga Basin.
The study identified:
The model uses:
The initiative supports:
India is emerging as a global leader in AI-enabled climate governance and disaster resilience. Through investments in:
India is strengthening resilience against climate-induced risks.Initiatives such as:
demonstrate how technology can support sustainable development and climate adaptation, especially for vulnerable communities in the Global South.
| Institution | Details |
|---|---|
| India Meteorological Department (IMD) | Established: 1875 |
| Headquarters | New Delhi |
| Parent Ministry | Ministry of Earth Sciences |
| Director General | Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra |
| Functions | Weather forecasting, cyclone warning, climate services, disaster early warning |
| IITM Pune | Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology involved in AI-based climate applications |
| ISRO | Supported ILDAS project (2021–24) |
| NDMA | Disaster management coordination and preparedness |
Updated – 16 Feb 2026 ; 03:39 PM | PIB [Posted On: 16 FEB 2026 3:09PM by PIB Delhi] | News Source – PIB Delhi