AI and Climate Action in India, Role, initiatives

Climate change is a pressing challenge that affects all aspects of life and livelihood. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, extreme weather events, and other climate risks have made adaptation and mitigation a necessity. India has taken important steps in this direction by increasing green cover, promoting renewable energy, reducing emissions, and strengthening disaster preparedness. In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. By analyzing large amounts of data, AI can help improve weather and climate predictions, optimize renewable energy, support sustainable agriculture, and enhance disaster resilience, making it an important instrument for building a climate-resilient India.

Use of AI in Climate Action

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a transformative tool in India’s fight against climate change, helping predict extreme weather, manage natural resources, and build resilience for vulnerable communities.

AI in Early Warning and Disaster Risk Reduction

AI is revolutionizing India’s approach to predicting and preparing for natural disasters. Advanced computational models, satellite monitoring, and machine learning techniques now enable highly accurate forecasts, allowing authorities to take timely action.

Cyclone and Extreme Weather Forecasting: India significantly enhanced its cyclone forecasting capacity through AI-assisted tools. 

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) now uses the Advanced Dvorak Technique along with AI guidance from global forecasting centers to predict cyclone intensity, trajectory, and landfall.
• High-performance computing systems with 22 PetaFLOPS capacity, including specialized GPUs, allow AI models to analyze vast datasets and produce accurate forecasts. 
• Transformer-based neural networks can predict monsoon behavior up to 18 days in advance, while comparative studies with global AI systems have improved cyclone path prediction up to 96 hours ahead, reducing risks to life and property.
• AI models like SpADANet (IIT Bombay) enhance damage assessment after cyclones using aerial imagery, while Reliability Ensemble Averaging (REA, IIT Madras) combines multiple climate models to provide more reliable rainfall and weather predictions.

These innovations reduce uncertainty in disaster planning and strengthen regional climate resilience.

Landslide, Flood, and Glacial Monitoring

AI-based landslide early warning system: India has developed an indigenous AI-based landslide early warning system to protect vulnerable Himalayan regions. It strengthens disaster preparedness and improves safety for people living in landslide-prone areas.

• This system can provide alerts up to three hours before a slope failure, giving communities enough time to evacuate safely. 
• It uses low-cost sensors to measure soil moisture, rainfall, humidity, temperature, and ground movement. 
• The collected data is processed by a machine learning model that achieves over 90% accuracy in predicting landslides. 
• Currently installed at more than 60 sites in Himachal Pradesh, the system can detect even millimeter-level slope shifts. 

Indian Land Data Assimilation System (ILDAS): The Indian Land Data Assimilation System (ILDAS), funded by ISRO between 2021 and 2024, uses AI and remote sensing data to monitor land conditions and predict floodplain water levels.

• By combining physics-based models with AI techniques, it helps improve flood forecasting and river basin management, especially in the Ganga and Brahmaputra regions.
• Specialized systems like BrahmaSATARK provide impact-based flood forecasts for the Brahmaputra Basin, while GBM-CLIMPACT acts as a climate-impact toolbox, assessing how ready the water sector is to handle floods and climate changes in the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Meghna basins. 

These AI-based systems help authorities plan better, reduce damage, and protect vulnerable communities.

Last-Mile Climate Intelligence: Reaching Communities

To ensure climate information reaches every village, India has launched initiatives that bring weather forecasts directly to local communities.

Gram Panchayat Level Weather Forecasting (GPLWF): 

• Developed by the IMD in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
• It provides forecasts to nearly all gram panchayats in India. 
• It uses multiple weather prediction models and shares information through apps like e-Gramswaraj, Meri Panchayat, and Mausam Gram. 
• Farmers can access details on temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind, and cloud cover, helping them make informed decisions about planting, irrigation, and harvesting.

Bharat Forecasting System (BharatFS): 

• The Bharat Forecasting System (BharatFS), launched on May 27, 2025, is an Indian-built model that provides high-resolution weather forecasts at the village level. 
• With a 6 km resolution, it can predict rainfall up to 10 days in advance. 
• This system helps farmers, disaster managers, and communities prepare for extreme weather, improving safety, productivity, and resilience at the local level.

Emerging AI Tools for Climate and Weather

India is developing new AI tools to improve climate and weather management, making information more accurate and accessible to communities.

MausamGPT: 

• MausamGPT is an AI-powered chatbot being developed by the government to provide farmers and citizens with advice on climate and weather. 
• It uses deep learning to analyze data and forecast rainfall, thunderstorms, fog, and fires. 
• This helps people plan agricultural activities, stay safe during extreme weather, and make informed decisions.

Coastal and sea-level monitoring: 

• By analyzing data along India’s coastlines, AI can identify areas likely to be affected by rising sea levels. 
• This information helps city planners design climate-resilient infrastructure and allows communities to prepare for future risks.

By providing high-resolution climate information directly to communities, these AI tools strengthen resilience and help India reduce vulnerability to climate hazards.

AI-Powered Forest Surveillance and Conservation

Artificial Intelligence is playing a key role in protecting India’s forests and wildlife.

• AI protects Indian forests through advanced surveillance and monitoring technologies using Machine Vision (MV) and Artificial Intelligence to analyse real-time footage from cameras deployed around forest areas. 
• AI serves as a robust early warning system for forest fires and the human activities that cause them, helping prevent or contain fires before they spread, which is critical since humans are responsible for 75% of all global wildfires. 
• AI and MV-enabled cameras deployed along forest boundaries detect animals straying beyond forest areas, helping prevent human-wildlife conflicts that threatens forest ecosystem health. 
• AI monitoring technologies detect illegal encroachment and felling activities in protected forest areas.

AI Innovations in Air and Water Risk Management

Artificial Intelligence is helping India manage air and water challenges, making cities and communities healthier and more climate-resilient.

Real-Time Air Quality Monitoring: 

• The AIRAWAT Research Foundation at IIT Kanpur, in collaboration with IIT Delhi, is developing AI-driven solutions to tackle urban challenges such as air pollution, energy management, mobility, infrastructure, and waste management. AI-enabled sensors monitor air quality and bioaerosols in real time, helping cities respond quickly to pollution, reduce health risks, and plan for sustainable urban development. By combining data from multiple sources, AI makes cities smarter, safer, and more climate-resilient.

Groundwater and Drinking Water Risk Mapping: 

• Researchers at IIT Kharagpur have developed an AI-based model to detect arsenic contamination in drinking water, a serious problem affecting millions along the Ganga delta. 
• The model analyzes environmental, geological, and human usage data to predict which areas have high or low arsenic levels. 
• It identifies safe water sources and supports programs like the Jal Jeevan Mission, enabling better planning for safe groundwater use.

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