IMD Chief Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra Re-Employed for Two Years

Bhubaneswar: Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the current Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), has been re-employed for a period of two years, following the approval of the proposal by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).

Dr Mohapatra was due to retire on August 31, 2025, upon reaching the age of superannuation. However, based on a recommendation from the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the Cabinet Committee granted approval for his continued service.

A native of Odisha, Dr Mohapatra became the first Odia to head the IMD when he took charge in 2019. Prior to his appointment as Director General, he served as the Additional Director General and Chief of the Cyclone Warning Division.

Renowned as the “Cyclone Man of India”, Dr Mohapatra has been instrumental in accurate predictions of several major cyclones, including Phailin (2013), Hudhud (2014), Titli (2018), and Fani (2019)—earning widespread acclaim for strengthening India’s disaster preparedness and saving countless lives.

His re-employment is seen as a significant move to retain expertise in the country’s top weather forecasting agency during a time of increasing climate variability and extreme weather events.