15 January 2025 : PIB Summary For UPSC
1. Defence Secretary visits Indian Navy’s premier Naval Air Station ‘INS Rajali’
(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2092805®=3&lang=1 )
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About INS Rajali:
- Location and Significance: INS Rajali is a premier Naval Air Station of the Indian Navy, located near Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu.
- Primary Role: It plays a critical role in maritime surveillance and ensuring combat readiness for operations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Strategic Importance: The station supports India’s maritime security by monitoring and safeguarding the country’s extensive maritime boundaries.
- Operational Facilities: INS Rajali is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure to support extensive naval air operations and evolving security requirements.
- Aircraft Operations: It serves as a hub for various advanced naval aircraft, enhancing India’s surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
2. India Meteorological Department
(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2092861®=3&lang=1 )
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Overview and Origin
- IMD was founded in 1875 after events like the Calcutta cyclone (1864) and monsoon failures (1866, 1871) highlighted the need for centralized meteorological services.
- It serves as the National Meteorological Service of India, focusing on weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and disaster management.
Key Roles and Services
- Weather Forecasting: IMD provides daily, medium-term, and long-term forecasts critical for agriculture, aviation, water management, and public safety.
- Climate Monitoring: It monitors global and regional climate patterns, offering insights for climate resilience.
- Disaster Management: IMD’s timely warnings significantly mitigate the impact of cyclones, floods, and extreme weather events.
Technological Advancements
- Expansion of Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) network from 15 in 2014 to 39 in 2023.
- Development of the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) and Electric Weather Research and Forecasting (EWRF) models for improved forecasting.
- Introduction of Mausamgram, an interactive meteogram providing location-specific forecasts.
Recent Achievements
- Forecast accuracy improved by 40% between 2014 and 2023.
- Cyclone prediction saved thousands of lives, reducing deaths from 10,000 in 1999 to nearly zero by 2024.
- Increased district-wise rainfall monitoring stations from 3,955 in 2014 to 5,896 in 2023.
Legacy and Vision
- IMD is committed to making India a “Weather-ready and Climate-smart” nation through initiatives like Mission Mausam.
Its Vision-2047 document aims for enhanced weather resilience and adaptation to climate change by India’s 100th independennce anniversary.
For more such UPSC related Current Affairs, Check Out –13 January 2025 : PIB Summary For UPSC
