High Performance Computer System ‘Mihir’ inaugurated

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Minister for Earth Science, Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr Harsh Vardhan on January 30, 2018, urged scientists and researchers to strengthen fundamental science and move towards solution science. Dedicating to the nation, the High Performance Computer (HPC) System named ‘Mihir’ (Sun) at the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) at Noida, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that with this facility, India’s capacity in weather forecasting will improve.

The Minister said that the HPC facility will be India’s largest HPC facility in terms of peak capacity and performance and will propel India’s ranking from the 368th position to around the top 30 in the Top 500 list of HPC facilities in the world. He also pointed out that India will now also be ranked 4^th after Japan, UK and USA for dedicated HPC resources for weather/climate community. Stating that India’s scientific research capabilities can be compared to the best in the world, he pointed out that Government sponsored National Laboratories top the institutions contributing most in terms of number of research papers in the field of Earth Sciences, according to a PIB release.

Dr Harsh Vardhan stated that the Ministry, in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), is providing district-level agro meteorological advisories to farmers through 130 agromet field units. “ At present, about 24 million farmers receive these advisories with weather forecasts on district level. These services will now be extended to block level (for about 6,500 blocks) by establishing district centres (630 centres) with the help of ICAR Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). It is planned to reach out to about 45 million farmers by July 2018,” he said. In this regard, the Minister also referred to the Union Cabinet’s approval to the National Monsoon Mission.

Recounting some of the other achievements of Ministry of Earth Science, Dr Harsh Vardhan referred to a Rs 500 crore project in Koyna in Maharashtra for putting in place an earthquake warning system.