The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) has released the Mega Science Vision-2035 (MSV-2035) roadmap for climate research, outlining a long-term national strategy to strengthen India’s climate observation, modelling, forecasting, and adaptation capabilities. The framework aims to build a coordinated, multi-institutional climate science ecosystem integrating satellites, Earth observation infrastructure, supercomputing systems, environmental field stations, and climate-health research platforms.
The roadmap identifies growing risks linked to changing monsoon behaviour, Himalayan glacier retreat, oceanic variability, extreme weather events, urban heat islands, and rising climate-linked public health vulnerabilities. It argues that India requires high-resolution, region-specific climate intelligence systems tailored to the country’s distinct geography rather than relying predominantly on generalised global climate datasets and externally developed modelling systems.
To address these gaps, the framework proposes implementation of eight priority Mega Science Projects (MSPs)between 2026 and 2035. These projects focus on expanding observational networks, deploying dedicated remote sensing satellites, upgrading Earth System Models (ESMs), strengthening carbon-neutrality research, and integrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) into climate forecasting systems.
A major emphasis of the roadmap is the development of indigenous scientific infrastructure under the broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat framework. The strategy calls for domestic manufacturing of climate instrumentation, calibration systems, environmental sensors, and high-precision observational technologies to reduce dependence on imported scientific equipment.
The framework additionally expands research pathways linked to India’s 2070 net-zero target, including targeted R&D on carbon capture, sequestration technologies, and decarbonisation systems designed to support long-term emissions reduction strategies. It also proposes the establishment of nationwide Climate and Health Observatories to monitor environmental epidemiology, climate-sensitive diseases, and heat-related risks facing elderly and vulnerable populations.
Key Benchmarks for Mega Science Vision-2035
Implementation timeline: 2026–2035
Framework organised around 8 Mega Science Projects (MSPs)
Expansion of automated weather stations, glacier-monitoring systems, and deep-ocean buoys
Development of dedicated satellites for:
greenhouse gas monitoring
cloud dynamics
Himalayan observation
AI/ML integration into India-specific Earth System Models (ESMs)
Establishment of nationwide Climate and Health Observatories for protection of Geriatric & Vulnerable population.
Indigenous manufacturing push for scientific sensors and calibration systems
R&D focus on carbon capture and decarbonisation technologies
Research alignment with India’s 2070 net-zero target
The Eight Priority Mega Science Projects (MSPs)
The MSV-2035 framework structures its multi-billion rupee scientific deployments across eight specialized operational domains:
Mega Science Project (MSP) | Operational Mandate & Technology Rails | Core Strategic Objective |
|---|---|---|
1. Observational Networks | Expanding automated weather tracking, deep-ocean buoys, and GHG stations. | Eliminating data blindspots across the Indian Ocean and the subcontinental landmass. |
2. Indigenous Instrument R&D | Domestic manufacturing of advanced climate sensors and laboratory instruments. | Eliminating reliance on imported western calibration technologies. |
3. Remote Sensing Satellites | Deploying dedicated space assets for GHG, cloud dynamics, and Himalayan tracking. | Generating continuous, high-resolution domestic spatial imaging. |
4. India-Specific Climate Models | Building regionally tailored, high-resolution models using AI/ML. | Delivering accurate monsoon and extreme-weather forecasting. |
5. ESM Upgrades | Improving existing Earth System Models with advanced microphysics and land-ocean coupling. | Enhancing localized prediction metrics for agricultural planning. |
6. Thematic Field Campaigns | Conducting large-scale field experiments on aerosols, urban heat islands, and the cryosphere. | Mapping micro-climate feedback loops inside dense metros. |
7. Carbon-Neutrality Research | Targeted technical engineering for carbon capture, sequestration, and clean energy mixes. | Operationalizing technical pathways to fulfill the national 2070 net-zero goals. |
8. Adaptation & Resilience Science | Quantifying social costs of carbon; designing nature-based urban shields. | Anchoring national public health policies to active environmental data. |
What is an "Earth System Model" (ESM)?
An Earth System Model (ESM) is an advanced, supercomputer-driven mathematical simulation that integrates the complex interactions of the atmosphere, oceans, land surfaces, sea ice, and terrestrial ecosystems to project future climate trajectories. Unlike basic weather forecasting applications that only calculate short-term atmospheric shifts, an ESM models biological, chemical, and physical cycles simultaneously, such as how carbon dioxide moves between forests and the ocean, or how sulphur aerosols from industrial clusters alter cloud formation and regional rainfall.
In national planning, an indigenous, India-specific ESM is vital because it allows scientists to insert localised topographical data, like the unique barrier of the Himalayas, to forecast monsoon cycles with extreme subregional accuracy.
Policy Relevance
Insulates the Agricultural Economy: Building high-resolution, India-specific climate models gives the Ministry of Agriculture the precise data-rails needed to predict monsoon onset variations, allowing farmers to adjust seed cycles and protect crop yields.
Transforms Urban Infrastructure Design: Deploying thematic field campaigns on urban heat islands enables municipal corporations to shift from generic zoning to climate-resilient urban designs that integrate natural cooling strategies.
Monetises the Social Cost of Carbon: Providing clear data on localized climate damage allows the Ministry of Finance to develop robust economic models based on the polluter-pays principle, driving private corporate capital into green technologies.
Protects Public Health via Active Observatories: Launching the mandated Climate and Health Observatories allows medical administrators to map changing environmental epidemiology vectors, preventing outbreaks of climate-sensitive and vector-borne diseases.
Secures Sovereign Strategic Data Assets: Launching dedicated space missions for greenhouse gas tracking guarantees that India possesses independent, legally verifiable climate metrics during international climate negotiations, avoiding data bias from foreign observation networks.
Follow the Full Report Here: Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser: Mega Science Vision-2035 Report