The Indian Navy hosted Meghayan 25 on April 14, 2025, celebrating WMO Day with top meteorological institutions. The symposium launched MOSDAC-IN, revived the journal “Sagarmanthan,” and focused on closing the early warning gap for maritime security with global experts and key stakeholders in meteorology and oceanography.
The Indian Navy marked a significant stride in the realm of maritime meteorology and oceanography with the successful conduct of the 3rd edition of the Meteorological and Oceanological Symposium – Meghayan 25, on 14 April 2025. Held at Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi, this year’s event was dedicated to the celebration of World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Day 2025, aligning with the global theme, “Closing the Early Warning Gap Together.”
Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, virtually inaugurated the symposium, which brought together top-tier professionals, scholars, and stakeholders from various domains of meteorology and oceanography. The symposium served as a convergence platform for leading Indian institutions including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Institute for Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), ISRO’s Space Applications Centre (SAC), Indian Air Force, National Maritime Foundation (NMF), and IIT Madras.
The technical agenda was divided into two insightful sessions, both chaired by experienced subject matter experts. The first session, under RAdm G Rambabu, Principal of the Indian Naval Academy and the seniormost Met officer, focused on the latest innovations in Marine Meteorology and Oceanology. The second session, moderated by Cmde SMU Athar, delved into Statistical Approaches in Weather Forecasting, sparking productive discussions and audience engagement.
A highlight of Meghayan 25 was a panel discussion titled “Closing the Early Warning Gap Together: Enhancing Maritime Security and Coordination.” This session was led by VAdm Pradeep Chauhan (Retd), Director General of the NMF, and saw dynamic contributions from experts who emphasized collaborative strategies to boost maritime preparedness and resilience.
The final session was presided over by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, and was attended by key figures including VAdm Tarun Sobti, VAdm Lochan Singh Pathania, and other senior naval officers. Dr Nilesh Desai, Director of SAC Ahmedabad, served as the Guest of Honour, and Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, DG IMD and Honorary Vice President of the WMO, delivered the Keynote Address, reinforcing the importance of robust early warning systems.
Adding a historical touch, Cmde PI Oommen (Retd), the 94-year-old pioneer of the Navy’s meteorological specialisation, was felicitated and shared valuable insights and personal experiences.
Among the notable announcements at the symposium was the official launch of MOSDAC-IN, the Meteorological and Oceanographic Satellite Data Archival Centre – Indian Navy, developed collaboratively by DNOM and SAC. This platform will deliver tailored satellite-based weather products to various Naval Met offices via secure access.
Finally, the revival of the Navy’s professional journal “Sagarmanthan” was celebrated with the release of its 10th edition, marking a resurgence of academic engagement in the field after a decade-long hiatus.
