Pakistan and Bangladesh have been invited to participate in an 'undivided India' seminar along with other neighbouring countries to mark the 150th anniversary of the India Meteorological Department. This is a first-of-its-kind initiative by the government to set aside differences and celebrate the shared history of the Indian subcontinent in unity.

Invitations have been sent to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Invitations have also been sent to officials from the subcontinent, the Middle East and Central and Southwest Asia.

Press Trust of India reported India got the confirmation from Pakistan and is awaiting confirmation from Bangladesh. Dhaka should ensure that this will be a historic moment. "We wanted officials from all countries that were part of undivided India at the time of IMD's establishment to be part of the celebrations," said a top Meteorological Department official.

The Government of India's various ministries are working to make the event memorable. The Ministry of Finance has determined to release a special and limited-edition commemorative coin of Rs 150 to mark the occasion. At the same time, the Ministry of Home Affairs has approved the release of memorable tableaux on Republic Day to mark the 150th anniversary of the Meteorological Department.

The Indian Meteorological Department was set up on 15 January 1875. However, meteorological observatories were established much earlier. The British East India Company first established the meteorological observatories. The Calcutta Observatory was established in 1785, the Madras Observatory in 1796 and the Bombay Observatory in 1826. Many more were established across the Indian subcontinent in the early 19th century.

After a cyclone hit Kolkata in 1864, and two severe monsoon failures in 1866 and 1871 led to famine across Bengal, the IMD was established in 1875. The British Raj administration identified the need for record-keeping and data analysis. Hence, the India Meteorological Department started collecting and analysing weather observations under one roof. Since its establishment in 1875, the IMD has been headquartered in Kolkata.

In 1905, it was shifted to Shimla, Pune in 1928, and finally, New Delhi in 1944, where it still remains. Over the years, IMD has grown from humble beginnings to become a leading weather forecaster for Asia.

Since India’s independence in 1947, IMD has made significant strides in meteorology, communication and scientific innovation. The Meteorological Department was the first to collaborate with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) when it was established.

India has become the first developing country to establish its geostationary satellite, INSAT, for round-the-clock weather monitoring and cyclone warning.