Bharat Forecast System Puts India at Forefront of High-Resolution Weather Prediction
Powered by the newly acquired supercomputers Arka (IITM-Pune) and Arunika (NCMRWF-Noida), BharatFS has slashed model runtime from around 12 hours to just 3–6 hours, enabling real-time predictions with exceptional detail.
New Delhi, August 8: India has become the only country in the world to run a global weather prediction model at 6 km horizontal resolution for real-time forecasting, thanks to the Bharat Forecast System (BharatFS)—an indigenously developed, next-generation meteorological model.
Announcing the achievement in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said BharatFS is based on a Triangular Cubic Octahedral (TCo) dynamical grid, delivering double the resolution of its predecessor GFS T1534 (~12 km) and outperforming typical global operational models that range between 9–14 km.
Powered by the newly acquired supercomputers Arka (IITM-Pune) and Arunika (NCMRWF-Noida), BharatFS has slashed model runtime from around 12 hours to just 3–6 hours, enabling real-time predictions with exceptional detail.
Enhanced Forecast Accuracy
In research mode, BharatFS has shown:
- 30% higher accuracy in extreme rainfall forecasts.
- Significant improvements in rainfall prediction over the core monsoon region.
With its fine-scale resolution, BharatFS can generate localized forecasts for every 6 km grid, catering to clusters of panchayats and villages. This capability enables:
- Farmers to plan cropping, irrigation, and harvesting more effectively.
- Water authorities to manage reservoirs, mitigate flood risks, and improve yield resilience.
- Disaster management agencies to respond faster and target relief operations precisely.
Indigenous Achievement
Developed by scientists from IITM-Pune, with support from NCMRWF-Noida and the India Meteorological Department (IMD), BharatFS is entirely powered by indigenous Ministry of Earth Sciences supercomputing facilities.
Designed specifically for India’s complex geography—including the Himalayas and Western Ghats—the system strengthens:
- Atmanirbhar Bharat by reducing reliance on foreign models.
- Make in India by showcasing world-class technological development within the country.
- Regional leadership by supporting weather services in neighboring countries.
Dr Singh said the launch of BharatFS marks a major leap in India’s climate and weather science capabilities, equipping the nation with faster, more accurate tools to predict and mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events in an era of climate change.
