IITM signs MoU with Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES)

HIGHLIGHTS:

• A Step Forward to Strengthen the Collaboration in Climate and Atmospheric Sciences under the Mission Mausam initiatives of Ministry of Earth Sciences

• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between IITM and ARIES, Devasthal on 18.6.2026 for a period of more than fifty years.

• MOU aims to promote collaborative research on climate change using long-term observations of climate variables under the Bharat Climate Observation Network (BCON)

• BCON will monitor meteorological parameters, climate-active trace gases (greenhouse gases and short-lived climate forcers), atmospheric chemistry, and soil moisture observations.

• An effort to create a long-term, high-quality, High accuracy climate dataset to support the frontline climate research in India.

Pune:19/6/25:The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) Nainital, on 18 June 2026 through online mode. The MoU was signed by Dr. A. Suryachandra Rao, Director, IITM, and Dr. Manish Kumar Naja, Director, ARIES, Nainital.

The MoU aims to promote collaborative research on climate change and long-term observations of climate variables, including meteorological parameters and climate-active trace gases, such as greenhouse gases, short-lived climate forcers and soil moisture etc. The MoU aims to establish a Climate Observation Station at ARIES, Devasthal, as part of the Bharat Climate Observation Network (BCON).

ARIES, Devasthal, a high-altitude hilltop, offers a unique environment for advanced atmospheric observations. Its relatively pristine setting provides ideal conditions for capturing baseline atmospheric features, studying the greenhouse gases, transport of climate-relevant pollutants, and understanding the dynamics of climate processes over the Himalayan region.

BCON is a national observational initiative conceptualized and implemented by IITM under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, to develop a long-term, high-precision climate monitoring framework across the country.

BCON will develop a robust national database that supports the detection of long-term trends, advances climate change research, and strengthens India’s capacity for climate assessment and evidence-based policy development.

The high-accuracy datasets produced through BCON will also provide the critical validation and benchmarking required for Earth System Models, including India’s first ESM, the IITM ESM, thereby enabling more accurate simulations of the Indian climate change and enhancing future climate projections.

Dr. Suvarna Fadnavis, Dr. Yogesh Tiwari, and senior scientists from Centre for Climate Change Research (CCCR), IITM, along with Dr. Umesh Kumar Dumka, Dr. Priyanka Srivastava from ARIES, Nainital, were also present during the online signing ceremony.