Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra

Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra is the Director General of Meteorology, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Permanent Representative of India to World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and 3^rd Vice President of WMO. With a Doctoral Degree in Physics and more than 30 years of experience in meteorology, he has made a paradigm shift in early warning services of IMD, especially with respect to severe weather hazards including cyclones and impact-based forecasting. He brought laurels to the country from various international and national agencies and is popularly known as “The Cyclone Man of India”.

His important scientific contributions include (i) End to End Cyclone Warning System, (ii) introduction of impact based forecasting and risk based warnings, (iii) indigenous development of Multi-hazard Early Warning Decision Support System (MHEW-DSS), (iv) Mausam Gram (location specific forecasts for any location and at any time (Har Har Mausam Har Ghar Mausam), (v) implementation of Common Alert Protocol & Mobile Apps for forecast & warning dissemination, (vi) augmentation of weather and climate services for social welfare with focus on Urban, Power, Health, Hydrology, Environment, Agriculture, Transport (Aviation, Navigation and Surface transport) and Tourism sectors (UPHHEATT) and (vii) Popularisation of Science of Meteorology.

IMD’s Modernisation Programme for Weather Forecasting (2007-12), WMO’s Severe Weather Forecasting Programme for South Asia in 2014-18, WMO’s South Asia Flash Flood Guidance System in 2021 and Mission Mausam since 2024 are a few noteworthy successful programmes /missions led by Dr. M. Mohapatra. He has authored more than 180 research papers in various national/international journals and edited 5 books & 8 Journals.

His initiatives in popularization of the Science in addition to contribution to Science & Technology, research & innovation and their applications in the field of meteorology have showcased “How the Science saves the life and livelihood of common man”.

He is the Chairman and President of various International and National Committees including (i) Secretary, WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones, (ii)Chairman WMO’s Task Team for Elections and Appointments, (iii) Co-Chair of WMO-International Oceanographic Commission Collaborative Board (JCB), (iv) Chairman, WMO Task Team for Coordination of activities in Regional Association II(Asia), (v) Chairman, Executive Council, South Asia Hydro-meteorological Forum, (vi) Chairman, WMO’s Regional Sub-project Management Team of Severe Weather Forecast Programme for South Asia, (vii) Rapporteur of WMO/ESCAP member countries for preparation of tropical cyclone names, (viii) Chairman of Task Team to suggest meteorological payloads for INSAT-4 series of satellites.

He is recipient of various national and international awards and recognitions from different agencies  including (i) United Nations Sasakawa Award 2025 for disaster risk reduction, (ii) American Meteorological Society Award for exceptional leadership and services in enhancing tropical cyclone prediction and warning systems in the Indian Ocean region, (iii) Sir Gilbert Walker Gold Medal-2025 for Science & Technology, Research Innovation in weather forecasting & severe weather warning, (iv)National Award for e-Governance 2025, 6^th Digital Transformation Summit Award & Economic Times Government Tech Award for multi hazard early warning decision support system, (v) Honorary D.Sc. from five universities, viz., Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), FM University, Balasore, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Maharaja Chhatrasal University Bundelkhand, Utkal University, (vi)Fellow of Indian Meteorological Society (vii) Fellow of Indian society of Technical Education (ISTE) (viii) 25^th and 31^st  Biennial Mausam Award for best research papers in Mausam,(ix) Bharat Gaurav Award, (x) Vyasa Gourab Samman, (xi) Prananath Samman, (xii) Ekamra Shree Award.