India’s 51st Doppler Weather Radar Inaugurated in Sambalpur

India’s 51st Doppler Weather Radar was inaugurated at Sambalpur in Odisha on 16 September 2026. The radar is located at Jamadarpali in Sambalpur and functions as a Make in India installation under Mission Mausam.

Doppler Weather Radar

A Doppler Weather Radar is a meteorological instrument that uses the Doppler effect to measure the movement of precipitation particles and wind within clouds. It is used for short-range weather monitoring, storm tracking, and rainfall estimation.

The Sambalpur radar provides meteorological data within a 250 km radius and has a 150-metre resolution. The system updates observations every 10 minutes and is the third Doppler radar in Odisha after Paradip and Gopalpur.

Coverage and Forecast Use

The new radar covers 13 districts in western Odisha and extends its observation area to parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. It is designed to provide early warnings for thunderstorms, lightning, hailstorms, and heavy rainfall.

The radar is relevant for crop protection in the Mahanadi basin and for water management in the Hirakud Reservoir area. Such radar data is used in nowcasting, which is a short-term weather forecast for the next few hours.

Mission Mausam and National Network

Mission Mausam is a Government of India initiative linked to the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The programme includes expansion of radar, satellite, and observation systems for weather and climate services.

Union Minister of Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that 40 to 50 more Doppler radars are planned across India under Mission Mausam. The target is to take the national radar network to nearly 100 radars within the next two years.

Important Facts for Exams

• Doppler Weather Radar uses frequency shifts in reflected signals to estimate motion in the atmosphere.
• Odisha now has three Doppler radars at Sambalpur, Paradip, and Gopalpur.
• The Sambalpur radar can monitor weather conditions up to 250 km away.
• Mission Mausam is associated with the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

Related Development Projects

During the same event, 50 development projects were inaugurated or had foundation stones laid in Sambalpur. The combined value of these projects was about Rs 960 crore.