Author: Madhavan Nair Rajeevan
India must strengthen climate research and interdisciplinary education to improve forecasting, prepare for extreme weather and build resilience
Every year, much of India plans its life around a weather system it still cannot fully predict. Farmers wait on the monsoon to sow, reservoirs and power grids depend on it, and a delay of a few weeks can show up in food prices across the country. Add longer spells of extreme heat, sudden cloudbursts and cyclones that gather strength faster than expected, and climate starts to look less like an environmental talking point and more like an everyday economic and social concern. For a country with a large population, a vast agricultural sector, a long coastline and fast-growing cities, building strong climate research capability has to be treated as a national priority.
The gap that still exists in prediction
Better prediction of extreme rainfall, heatwaves, tropical cyclones and water stress has direct consequences for disaster preparedness, public health, food and water security, energy systems and economic growth. It also shapes who is hit hardest when things go wrong. Weather and climate forecasting have improved considerably, yet substantial uncertainties remain. India needs to strengthen research that deepens understanding of the climate system and human-induced climate change, sharpens early-warning systems, and turns scientific knowledge into workable policies for mitigation, adaptation and resilience.
A challenge that goes beyond meteorology
The climate challenges of the coming decades will need a new generation of climate scientists, engineers and informed decision-makers. Understanding the climate and predicting it better call for expertise well outside traditional meteorology, drawing in engineering, computer science, economics, public health, agriculture, urban planning and public policy.
After four decades in climate research and science administration, the case for giving climate research a far higher place in India’s higher education system is a strong one. Universities have the opportunity and the responsibility to stop treating climate change mainly as an awareness topic. It can become a serious area of education, scientific research, technological innovation and public service.
What universities need to build
This shift requires institutional commitment. Universities should set up dedicated centres for climate and Earth system research and design interdisciplinary programmes that bring climate science together with data science, artificial intelligence (AI), engineering, economics and policy. The results can be very practical. Engineering students could design heat-resilient buildings. Computer science students could build AI-based flood-warning systems. Economics students could study what climate hazards actually cost, while public health students investigate heat-related illnesses.
The research opportunity is also growing quickly. Satellite observations, radar data, ocean measurements and high-resolution climate simulations are more widely available than ever before. AI and machine learning can help find complex patterns in these datasets, though they work best when paired with sound physical understanding and rigorous scientific validation. Students should learn how to analyse climate data, assess uncertainty and apply what they find to real problems, from early-warning systems to climate-resilient infrastructure.
Partnerships that make research count
Collaboration with national institutions such as the India Meteorological Department, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and the Indian Space Research Organisation can give universities access to scientific expertise, observational data and computing infrastructure. Industry partnerships, meanwhile, can carry research into applications across renewable energy, agriculture, insurance and climate-risk management.
My experience in leading climate research collaborations and working with the Centre of Excellence on Climate Change at Atria University has reinforced the importance of sustained institutional support and interdisciplinary collaboration. Meaningful progress requires connecting fundamental research with operational needs and nurturing young researchers. Universities must recognise that credible research capability takes years to develop and needs continuity in funding, staffing, infrastructure and scientific mentorship. Undergraduate students should also get early exposure to research through projects and internships.
New careers in a changing climate
A stronger climate research ecosystem will open diverse career pathways for climate scientists, weather forecasters, climate-data analysts, AI and modelling specialists, hydrologists and climate-risk assessors. Opportunities are also expanding in renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, climate services and public policy. These fields need professionals with strong quantitative and computational skills, along with the ability to work across disciplines.
India must therefore invest in developing talent alongside its investment in scientific infrastructure. The National Education Policy 2020 provides a broader framework for multidisciplinary education, which universities can use to create more flexible and research-oriented pathways into climate science.
From awareness to capability
Natural climate variability cannot be eliminated, and not every extreme weather event can be prevented. It is possible, however, to deepen the understanding of climate processes, improve predictions and prepare more effectively for climate-related risks.
India must treat climate as a strategic priority in higher education and as a multidisciplinary mission of research and innovation rather than only an environmental subject. Universities should build sustained research capacity and collaborate with national institutions to translate scientific knowledge into societal resilience. Doing so goes beyond academic responsibility. It is an investment in India’s development, security and future.
The writer is Vice-Chancellor of Atria University; Views presented are personal.