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Accurate forecasting of variations in Indian monsoon precipitation and progression on seasonal time scales remains a challenge for prediction centres. We examine prediction skill for the seasonal-mean Indian summer monsoon and its onset in the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) seasonal forecasting system 5 (SEAS5). We analyse summer hindcasts initialised on 1st of May, with 51 ensemble members, for the 36-year period of 1981–2016. We evaluate the hindcasts against the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) precipitation observations and the ECMWF reanalysis 5 (ERA5). The model has significant skill at forecasting dynamical features of the large-scale monsoon and local-scale monsoon onset tercile category one month in advance. SEAS5 shows higher skill for monsoon features calculated using large-scale indices compared to those at smaller scales. Our results also highlight possible model deficiencies in forecasting the all India monsoon rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the land-based resources depleting faster, effective exploration and sustained harvesting of the Ocean resources, taking into account the economic growth, social needs and the health of the Ocean environment is essential. India with a 7600 km long coastline and an exclusive economic zone of 2.3 million km2 and spear heading the blue economic growth and security of all the countries in the Indian Ocean region have initiated policies for leveraging the growth of the Indian economy through the blue economy. The paper discusses the strategic technology developments undertaken in India by the National Institute of Ocean Technology-Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India for the harvesting of the living and non-living blue economic resources, and for protecting the ocean ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]