Meghayan-25 Symposium

Prelims Bits

Context:

The Indian Navy recently conducted the third edition of the Meteorological and Oceanological Symposium, Meghayan-25, at Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi, in celebration of World Meteorological Day 2025 and the founding of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

World Meteorological Day – 2025 Theme:

“Closing the Early Warning Gap Together”
This year’s theme emphasizes strengthening global early warning capabilities, particularly in areas related to weather, climate, ocean monitoring, and disaster risk preparedness.

Date of Observance:

March 23 is globally recognized as World Meteorological Day.

Key Participants:

Institutions such as the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Indian Air Force (IAF), SAC-ISRO, and IIT-Madras took part in the event.

Key Highlights and Initiatives:

• MOSDAC-IN Web Platform:
  Developed collaboratively by the Naval Directorate of Oceanology and Meteorology (DNOM) and Space Applications Centre (ISRO), this online service provides customized satellite-based weather insights to the Indian Navy. Individual Naval Meteorological Offices can also access this platform.
• Revival of ‘Sagarmanthan’ Journal:
  The Indian Navy relaunched its official Meteorology and Oceanography journal ‘Sagarmanthan’ after a decade, releasing the 10th edition during the symposium.

About World Meteorological Organisation (WMO):

• Type: UN Specialized Agency
• Mandate: Promote international collaboration in weather forecasting, hydrology, and climate research
• Established: 1950 (replacing the International Meteorological Organisation, founded in 1873)
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Membership: 193 member states and territories
• Key Functions:
  • Foster global sharing of weather and climate data
  • Strengthen early warning systems
  • Facilitate research and standardization in meteorological services