The Congress party on Friday raised concerns over the downsizing of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), warning that it could adversely affect India’s weather prediction capabilities. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said India must now enhance its research capacity in earth sciences to compensate for potential data gaps.
Ramesh cited a media report on X, stating that the NOAA’s downsizing would weaken global climate data collection. He highlighted that NOAA plays a crucial role in monitoring key oceanic parameters such as temperature, salinity, and sea levels—factors essential for monsoon forecasting. According to him, NOAA currently provides around 40% of subsurface observations in the Indian Ocean, while India contributes only 11%.
He also linked the NOAA cuts to broader policy shifts under President Donald Trump, noting that while the Modi government is focused on trade negotiations with the US, other decisions, such as NOAA’s budget reductions, could have long-term consequences for India.
Scientists and policymakers in India have expressed concerns that reduced NOAA operations could impact cyclone tracking and monsoon predictions, both critical for India’s agriculture and disaster preparedness. Hundreds of NOAA meteorologists and weather forecasters were reportedly fired in February, raising fears of gaps in global climate monitoring.
