Content:

1. Mission Mausam
2. The MSME Revolution

Mission Mausam

Introduction :

• Launch: September 2024 by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
• Goal: Position India as a global leader in weather and climate science.
• Focus Areas: Enhance forecasting and climate resilience in agriculture, disaster management, and rural development.
• Key Institutions: India Meteorological Department (IMD), National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF).

Relevance : GS 3 (Environment, Technology )

Need for Mission Mausam:

• Agrarian Economy: Erratic rainfall patterns, intensified by climate change, affect farming. Improved monsoon forecasting can help optimise sowing, irrigation, and crop yields.

• Disaster Preparedness: enhanced weather predictions can help reduce casualties and economic losses during extreme weather events like cyclones and floods,.

• Rural Development: Accurate weather forecasts assist in water resource management, livestock protection, and infrastructure planning.

Objectives:

• Enhance weather forecasting across various timescales.
• Develop high-resolution models for monsoon behavior predictions.
• Strengthen observational networks (radars, satellites, weather stations).
• Provide actionable advisories for sectors like agriculture, water, and disaster management.
• Build capacity through national and international collaborations.

Implementation Strategy:

• Infrastructure Development: Installation of Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs), Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), and rain gauges.
• Supercomputing Power: Utilize high-performance systems like Pratyush and Mihir for climate modeling.
• Collaborative Research: Partner with global organizations like the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
• Public Outreach: Provide weather updates through the Mausam app and SMS services.

Current Status:

• Over 37 Doppler Weather Radars installed.
• Mausam app offers location-specific weather forecasts for 450 cities.
• Significant improvements in seasonal predictions under the National Monsoon Mission.
• Specialized programs for urban flooding and cyclone tracking initiated.

Focus on the North-East Region:

• The North-East faces challenges like floods and landslides due to its unique topography and climate. Mission Mausam focuses on:
• Deploying weather observation systems tailored to the region’s needs.
• Providing localized forecasts and collaborating with state governments for disaster management.

Challenges:

• Geographical Diversity: Complex region-specific models needed for India’s varied terrain.
• Climate Change Uncertainty: Rapid climate changes complicate long-term predictions.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Remote areas still lack adequate weather observation infrastructure.
• Awareness Levels: Ensuring effective use of forecast data by farmers and rural communities.

The MSME Revolution

Introduction :

• Recent years Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have seen a significant rise in their exports, substantial contributions to the GDP, and an increase in the number of exporting units.

Relevance : GS 3 (Economy )

Highlights:

• Rise in Exports:
  • MSME exports increased from ₹3.95 lakh crore in 2020-21 to ₹12.39 lakh crore in 2024-25.
  • The number of exporting MSMEs rose from 52,849 in 2020-21 to 1,73,350 in 2024-25.
  • Contributed 45.73% to exports in 2023-24, increasing to 45.79% by May 2024.

• Contribution to GDP:
  • GVA by MSMEs in India’s GDP was 29.7% in 2017-18, rising to 30.1% in 2022-23.
  • Despite COVID-19 challenges, the sector sustained a 27.3% contribution in 2020-21, rebounding to 29.6% in 2021-22.

• Classification:
  • Micro Enterprise: Investment ≤ ₹1 crore; turnover ≤ ₹5 crore.
  • Small Enterprise: Investment ≤ ₹10 crore; turnover ≤ ₹50 crore.
  • Medium Enterprise: Investment ≤ ₹50 crore; turnover ≤ ₹250 crore.
  • From 2020-21 to 2021-22:
    • 714 Micro enterprises scaled up to Medium.
    • 3,701 Small enterprises upgraded to Medium.

• From 2023-24 to 2024-25:2,372 Micro enterprises scaled up to Medium.17,745 Small enterprises upgraded to Medium.

Importance of MSMEs:

• Economic Impact: MSMEs play a pivotal role in driving economic growth, contributing significantly to exports and GDP.
• Employment Generation: They are crucial for employment generation and entrepreneurship promotion.
• Resilience and Adaptability: MSMEs have shown remarkable resilience and adaptability, even amid economic challenges.
• Innovation and Development: Through innovation and growth, MSMEs foster inclusive development and enhance export competitiveness.

Schemes and Support for MSMEs:

• Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP): Financial assistance for new enterprises.
• Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro & Small Enterprises (CGTMSE): Credit guarantees for MSME loans.
• Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS): Capital subsidies for technology upgradation.
• Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY): Loans for micro-enterprises.
• SIDBI Make in India Loan for Enterprises (SMILE): Financial assistance for MSMEs.