<p>The present study evaluates the impact of EOS-06 scatterometer winds on wave predictions for the Indian Ocean using the unstructured WAVEWATCH III model. Accurate wave forecasting is essential for marine operations such as shipping, marine engineering, fishing and depends heavily on wind data quality. EOS-06 scatterometer-derived wind data, offers improved spatial coverage and resolution, making it a valuable tool for refining wave predictions. Two wind forcing fields were used for model simulations for nine months, April-December, 2023: (1) National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) analysis winds and (2) EOS-06 scatterometer analysis winds. Validation of the model output was carried out using in-situ wave buoy observations across the North Indian Ocean. Statistical error estimates indicate that EOS-06 scatterometer analysis winds better captured both low and high wind speed variations, particularly during pre- and post-monsoon periods compared to NCMRWF winds. This improvement translated into better predictions of significant wave height and mean wave period, especially in coastal regions and for short-period waves. However, some wind peaks were overestimated, introducing a positive bias in the wave parameters. The scatterometer winds demonstrated clear advantages in capturing high-frequency waves (wind sea), which are critical for operational forecasting in nearshore environments. In conclusion, EOS-06 scatterometer winds significantly enhance wave prediction accuracy in the Indian Ocean, particularly in regions dominated by wind-sea.</p>