The Launching of the Indian Climate Research Programme (ICRP) marks a new and major multifaceted initiative under the auspices of the Department of Science & Technology(DST), Government of India. ICRP seeks to implement a wellcoordinated research effort to understand the climate and its variability with a regional perspective. Over the years, the country has seen a steady growth of expertise and organizational infrastructure to deal with various aspects of the Indian climate. It is with this strength that the Indian participation has been able to make a mark in global climate research. As envisaged in its Science Plan, ICRP has been able to foster close co-operation between the various climate research groups in the country to conceive and undertake joint research programmes to understand the complex characteristics of our regional climate. In this context, there has been a long-felt need to provide an effective medium of communication for the dissemination of information as well as interaction between the research groups, relevant to the ICRP. The ICRP Bulletin, the inaugural issue of which is in your hands now, is meant to fulfill this need. Everything is small in the beginning; this issue is no exception. We have made a serious attempt to put together some of the available information, but hope to improve and expand it in due course. The co-operation, suggestions and input from the climate researchers and associated groups both in India and abroad dealing with the Indian climate, particularly the participants of the ICRP projects, are essential to make the Bulletin a truly effective forum for all climate related issues of the country. We hope the ICRP Bulletin will succeed in living up to its expectations. We welcome all constructive criticism on the contents as well as presentation and invite contributions from all of you for the forthcoming issues well in advance.

G.B.Pant