With reference to the WINDS project, consider the following statements: 1. As of September 9, 50% of the target rain gauges have been installed. 2. The project aims to install 49,313 automatic rain gauges. 3. The project aims to install 1,197 automatic weather stations. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

WINDS project stalls as only 4% of 49,313 rain gauges are installed

GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Cropping patterns & irrigation· Prelims· 15 October 2026

Infrastructure bottlenecks in climate-resilient agriculture and crop forecasting: a GS3 and Agriculture case study.

Why in news

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre are facing delays in the WINDS project due to low installation rates and IMD requirements.

Background

The WINDS project aims to install 49,313 automatic rain gauges and 1,197 automatic weather stations. As of September 9, only 4% of rain gauges and 9.4% of weather stations have been installed.

Facts for Prelims

FactWINDS project target: 49,313 automatic rain gauges
FactWINDS project target: 1,197 automatic weather stations
BodyMahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre: body involved in the WINDS project
BodyIndia Meteorological Department (IMD): agency imposing ground-level sensor requirements

Prelims practice question

With reference to the WINDS project, consider the following statements:

As of September 9, 50% of the target rain gauges have been installed.
The project aims to install 49,313 automatic rain gauges.
The project aims to install 1,197 automatic weather stations.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only
(b)3 only
(c)2 and 3 only
(d)1, 2 and 3

Show answer

Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only — Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Statement 1 is incorrect: Only 4% of the rain gauges have been installed.

For Mains

Q. Discuss how the integration of automated weather stations and rain gauges can enhance climate-resilient agriculture and crop forecasting in India.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Logistical bottleneck: Land acquisition hurdles for ground-based sensors vs rooftop installation feasibility
Data accuracy trade-offs: IMD's retrospective requirement for ground-level placement vs rapid deployment needs

Keywords: Climate-resilient agriculture · Precision farming · Crop forecasting · Infrastructure bottlenecks · Data-driven governance

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