State PCS - Maharashtra (MPSC)

• 05 Jul 2025

Launch of C-FLOOD System

Why in News? 

The Union Minister of Jal Shakti inaugurated C-FLOOD, a Unified Inundation Forecasting System. This new initiative aims to enhance India's flood management capabilities by providing advanced flood forecasting and early warning systems.  

Key Points 

• About the C-FLOOD System: 
  • It is a web-based system that delivers two-day advance inundation forecasts up to the village level.  
  • The system includes flood inundation maps and water level predictions, enabling authorities to prepare for potential flooding more effectively. 
  • This initiative aims to enhance flood management by offering a unified system that integrates data from various national and regional flood modeling agencies. 
• Collaboration and Development: 
  • C-FLOOD was developed through collaboration between the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) Pune, Central Water Commission (CWC), and National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) under the guidance of the Ministry of Jal Shakti. 
  • The initiative is part of the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), a joint effort between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST). 
• Advanced Features and Coverage: 
  • The platform utilizes 2-D hydrodynamic modeling to simulate flood scenarios and is run on High-Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure at C-DAC Pune.  
  • Currently, the system covers the Mahanadi, Godavari, and Tapi river basins, with plans to expand to other river basins in the future. 
  • It serves as a comprehensive decision-support tool for disaster management authorities by integrating outputs from multiple agencies, thereby improving coordination and timely decision-making during flood events. 
  • The system is designed to integrate seamlessly with the National Disaster Management Emergency Response Portal (NDEM), facilitating effective coordination during flood emergencies. 

National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) 

• The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) was launched in 2015 to enhance High-Performance Computing (HPC) capabilities in India. 
• Type: Central Sector Scheme 
• Nodal Ministries: Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). 
• Implementing Agencies: C-DAC (Pune), IISc (Bengaluru). 
• Key Objectives: 
  • Supercomputer Installation: To empower academic and research institutions with advanced supercomputing facilities. 
  • Skill Development: Promotes HPC skill development through dedicated training centers in Pune, Kharagpur, Chennai, Palakkad, and Goa. 
• Significance: 
  • Advances scientific research in areas like drug discovery, climate modeling, disaster management, and material science. 
  • Supports start-ups and MSMEs in innovation, product development, and HPC and AI training. 

Mahanadi River  

• The Mahanadi River system is the third largest of peninsular India after Godavari and Krishna, and the largest river of Odisha state. 
• The catchment area of the river extends to Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. 
• Its basin is bounded by the Central India hills on the north, by the Eastern Ghats on the south and east and by the Maikala range in the west. 

Godavari River 

• The Godavari is the largest Peninsular River system. It is also called the Dakshin Ganga. 
• The basin is bounded on the north by the Satmala hills, on the south by the Ajanta range and the Mahadeo hills, on the east by the Eastern Ghats and on the west by the Western Ghats. 
• Godavari River rises from Trimbakeshwar near Nasik in Maharashtra and flows for a length of about 1465 km before outfalling into the Bay of Bengal.