Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated India's first SkyCast system at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, describing it as the start of a new era in Indian aviation. He noted that only 18 such integrated atmospheric remote sensing systems existed globally and that India had become the 19th to deploy the technology. The inauguration at IGI Airport included a technical briefing and demonstration by scientists from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and attendance by officials from the Ministry of Earth Sciences and the India Meteorological Department.

SkyCast integrates a Radar Wind Profiler, SODAR, Microwave Radiometer, a Ground-based Fog Aerosol Spectrometer (GFAS) and a CL61 Lidar-based Ceilometer to provide comprehensive monitoring of the boundary layer up to three kilometres. The Radar Wind Profiler continuously measures wind speed, wind direction, turbulence, vertical velocity and boundary layer dynamics that are critical during aircraft descent and landing. The Ground-based Fog Aerosol Spectrometer provides detailed information on fog droplets and aerosol interactions that influence visibility.

The system consolidates real-time measurements of fog, aerosols, turbulence, moisture and visibility into a single aviation weather intelligence framework to support pilots, airlines, airport operators and air traffic managers. It is designed to deliver nowcasting and early warning services, with advanced alerts available within short windows of around three hours to enable safer operational decisions and to reduce diversions, cancellations and delays. A second SkyCast facility is planned for Jewar Airport, with further rollout to other airports across India.

The SkyCast initiative draws on research from the Winter Fog Experiment, which began at IGI Airport in 2015 and informed the development of this operational capability. Officials said the facility will strengthen vertical profiling of wind, humidity and temperature and improve forecast accuracy as networks expand under Mission Mausam. Beyond aviation, SkyCast observations will support advanced forecasting models, artificial intelligence-enabled decision support systems, urban weather forecasting, pollution management, transport advisories and disaster preparedness. The system was described as a key element in efforts to build weather-smart infrastructure and to strengthen aviation resilience for passengers and operators.