NEW DELHI: Hundreds of thousands of Indian villages are set to become more climate resilient this week with the introduction of a comprehensive weather forecast system designed to deliver localized weather updates directly to village communities. The initiative, spearheaded by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), will provide weather forecasts five days a week, significantly enhancing rural preparedness against natural disasters. According to Emirates News Agency, the system, known as "Gram-Panchayat-level Weather Forecasting," is scheduled to be officially launched on October 24 in the presence of Rajiv Ranjan Singh, the Minister of Panchayati Raj, and Jitendra Singh, the Minister of State for Science, Technology and Earth Sciences. This innovative system will cover most of India's 644,131 villages, as per data from the Registrar-General of India, providing them with critical weather information at their doorsteps. In addition to daily forecasts, villagers wi ll have the convenience of accessing hourly weather updates via the 'My Panchayat' mobile app and the Gram Manchitra platform, a spatial planning tool offering geospatial insights. These resources will be integrated with the Panchayati Raj Ministry's digital platform, e-GramSwaraj, enhancing the self-governance capabilities of village councils, known as Gram Panchayats. The government reported to Parliament on December 13 last year that Indian villages enjoy a mobile connectivity rate of 95.7 percent, ensuring that the new system will be widely accessible. The Indian government's Press Information Bureau expressed that the implementation of this weather forecasting system at the Gram Panchayat level is crucial for protecting agricultural livelihoods and improving rural resilience. The bureau further emphasized that Gram Panchayats will receive daily updates on various weather parameters, including temperature, rainfall, wind speed, and cloud cover. This information will enable village councils to make infor med decisions regarding agricultural activities, such as planning for sowing, irrigation, and harvesting, thereby strengthening the overall climate resilience of rural communities.