India Begins Manufacturing 3D-Printed Automatic Weather Stations Under Mission Mausam

3D-Printed Weather Stations to Strengthen India’s Forecast Network Under Mission Mausam

New Delhi: India has begun manufacturing indigenously designed 3D-printed Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), marking a major technological leap in strengthening the country’s weather monitoring and forecasting capabilities under the ambitious Mission Mausam.

Developed by Indian scientists, the next-generation AWS units will start being installed in the national capital from February, with a phased rollout planned across other major cities and later into remote and underserved regions. The initiative aims to plug long-standing data gaps that limit accurate, hyper-local weather forecasts.

In a first, Indian scientists are developing indigenous Automatic Weather Stations (#AWS) using 3D printing to strengthen last-mile weather observations. The first set of these stations will be installed in the national capital #Delhi this February. ⬇️ https://t.co/o5jNiwgiMB

— Srishti Choudhary (@Srish__T) January 3, 2026

The programme is being spearheaded by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, as part of the ₹2,000-crore Mission Mausam framework to make India weather-ready and climate-resilient.

Expanding the observation network

Explaining the objective, M Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, said the focus is to expand the observational network so extensively that data blind spots are eliminated. “By recording temperature, wind, humidity and rainfall at far more locations, we can significantly improve local-level forecasting,” he said, adding that the new stations will be solar-powered to ensure uninterrupted functioning even in off-grid areas.

Cities in focus

Under Mission Mausam, urban meteorology has emerged as a key priority. Cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai are expected to witness a rapid expansion of AWS and radar installations over the next six months, helping authorities better understand urban heat islands, sudden downpours and extreme weather events.

How the 3D-printed AWS works

Unlike conventional weather observatories, Automatic Weather Stations continuously measure and transmit meteorological data without manual intervention, sharply reducing operating costs and enabling real-time monitoring. The use of 3D printing allows faster production, design flexibility and cost-effective scaling of the network.

However, experts caution that accuracy depends heavily on proper calibration and scientific installation. The need for precision came into focus earlier this year when some India Meteorological Department AWS units reported unusually high temperatures, later traced to faulty sensors or unsuitable installation sites.

Officials say the new 3D-printed stations will initially operate alongside existing systems to ensure calibration, quality control and reliability before large-scale deployment.

With Mission Mausam integrating advanced observation tools, high-performance computing and improved forecast models, policymakers believe the rollout of these indigenous 3D-printed weather stations will significantly enhance India’s ability to predict extreme weather, support disaster management, and protect lives and livelihoods.