India Develops 3D-Printed Automatic Weather Stations Under Mission Mausam

Indian scientists have achieved a technological milestone by developing indigenously manufactured Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) using 3D-printing technology. The first batch of these next-generation stations will be deployed in Delhi from February 2026, marking a major step towards strengthening India’s weather observation and forecasting network.

Mission Mausam and Institutional Leadership

The initiative is being led by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology under the Ministry of Earth Sciences as part of Mission Mausam, a ₹2,000 crore national programme aimed at upgrading meteorological infrastructure. Mission Mausam focuses on eliminating data gaps in weather observations, especially in urban and climate-sensitive regions, to improve forecast accuracy.

Technology and Design Advantages

Unlike conventional systems, the new AWS units are fully manufactured domestically using 3D-printing technology under the Make in India initiative. These stations automatically record parameters such as temperature, wind speed, humidity, and rainfall, and transmit data in real time. The use of 3D printing significantly reduces production costs, allows flexible geometric design, and enables faster large-scale deployment. All units are solar-powered, making them suitable for remote and urban locations alike.

Deployment Strategy and Quality Control

Delhi will be the first city to receive the new stations, followed by other major urban centres including Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai over the next six months. To ensure accuracy, the 3D-printed AWS will initially be installed alongside existing manual observatories for rigorous testing, calibration, and validation. Earlier concerns over faulty AWS data due to sensor damage and improper siting have informed stricter quality protocols for the new rollout.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• Mission Mausam is a ₹2,000 crore programme to strengthen India’s weather observation network.
• Automatic Weather Stations record and transmit weather data without manual intervention.
• The new AWS are fully indigenously produced using 3D-printing technology.
• All meteorological instruments are certified by IMD’s Surface Laboratory and recognised by BIS.

Bridging Gaps in Weather Observation

Currently, the India Meteorological Department operates over 1,000 AWS, along with manual observatories and rain gauges nationwide. Scientists have long highlighted that this density is inadequate for hyper-local forecasts, particularly in urban microclimates and complex terrains such as the Himalayas. The deployment of 3D-printed AWS is expected to significantly enhance last-mile data coverage and improve forecasting as weather patterns become increasingly erratic.