BharatNet, National Knowledge Network to help IMD make accurate weather forecast

The two ambitious broadband projects of the government -- BharatNet and National Knowledge Network (NKN) -- once completed will enable the country's weather department to make long term predictions and boost accuracy of the weather forecast.

While BharatNet is part of the telecom ministry, NKN is under the purview of ministry of IT and electronics. The ministries are in discussions with IMD (India Meteorological Department) to use the high-speed broadband network at village/panchayat level which can improve the accuracy of the data collected manifold, a senior government functionary told DNA Money.

The plan is to install observatories in all districts and panchayats, which will enable IMD to gather accurate data at the ground level. The information will be critical keeping in mind the impact of global warming and other environmental changes. It will also improve weather predictions of various issues, including drought, monsoon and others which can go a long way in helping agricultural economy.

NKN project is being executed by NIC. The first phase of BharatNet is over and the second phase is underway and is being implemented by multiple players with several states coming forward to develop their own model of the project.

The official explained that one of the application of the NKN project -- high performance computing enabling institutions will undertake advance research in many areas, including weather monitoring and earthquake engineering.

Under NKN, all educational, medical and research institutes in India will be able to connect globally with scientists, teachers and researchers to share information and ideas across major fields. It will enable such access to information across countries mainly focused on education and research. This is expected to benefit 50 million students and researchers. The ministry of electronics and IT has connected about 1,700 institutes, including IIMs, ISRO, DRDO, central universities and medical institutes through NKN. Besides, various universities, libraries, laboratories, healthcare and agricultural institutions across the country will also be connected to improve access to knowledge and meet communication need of the institutions.

Many government applications such as e-governance, e-hospital and other related services ride on the back of this network. One of the biggest and ambitious project of the current government is 'Digital India' and this NKN project along with BharatNet, the project to connect rural India with internet, forms the backbone on which the country will fully move towards a digitally society.

IMD PREDICTION

• The plan is to install observatories in all districts and panchayats, which will enable IMD to gather accurate data at the ground level
   
• It will also improve weather predictions of various issues, including drought, monsoon and others which can go a long way in helping agricultural economy