India Meteorological department continues to participate in multi-disciplinary scientific cruises of Ocean Research Vessel in the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean, etc. during pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon periods. These cruises are planned to collect meteorological data over the adjoining sea areas for the study of various aspects of monsoon circulation and other important weather systems affecting the country and also to validate satellite data of meteorological parameters on board the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS P3) as and when required. A faster humidity sensor for use in Radio sound, namely Carbon Hygrister was developed indigenously in IMD. It has been field tested and introduced operationally at one upper air station with a plan to use it in the whole network.