It was conceived as a scientific satellite experiment of India and France in the late 1990s.
Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/news/isro-gets-ready-launch-%E2%80%98megha-tropiques-tomorrow
[2] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/newspaper/business-line-new-delhi
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/indian-space-research-organisation-isro
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/space-technology
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/india
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/france
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/climate-change
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/ozone
[9] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/atmosphere
[10] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/monsoons
[11] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/weather-predictions
[12] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/indian-meteorological-department-imd
[13] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/agriculture