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Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) marked its 20th Foundation Day at Prithvi Bhawan, New Delhi, on 27 July 2026, reviewing two decades since its formation
MoES Secretary Dr N. Kalaiselvi described the ministry as a complete value chain — data provider via Prithvi systems, service provider via Mission Mausam, and technology provider via the Deep Ocean Mission
New tools and upgrades were launched across MoES institutes: 13 IMD Centres of Excellence, an upgraded Cyclone Warning Centre for Kerala-Karnataka-Lakshadweep, new NCMRWF/NCS/NIOT platforms, and CMLRE taxonomic manuals
Guests of Honour Dr A.E. Muthunayagam (founding Secretary, Department of Ocean Development) and Dr Chandramouli Gaddamanugu (Akash missile programme veteran) traced the ministry's roots to India's 1981 Antarctic programme
MoES's weather-modelling and forecasting modernisation mission, the Secretary's cited 'service provider' arm
Key: The National Doppler Weather Radar Reflectivity Mosaic, launched by NCMRWF on this Foundation Day to monitor convective and severe weather, was developed under Mission Mausam
India's mission for deep-sea exploration, resources and technology — the Secretary's cited 'technology provider' arm
Key: NIOT's outreach to explore ~75,000 sq. km of the Central Indian Ocean Basin for polymetallic nodules, and its new Ballast Water Treatment Test Facility infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh, sit under this mission
India's scientific research and station-building programme in Antarctica, now overseen by NCPOR
Key: Began with the first Indian expedition to Antarctica launched from Goa in 1981 under the Department of Ocean Development; built Dakshin Gangotri (1983, decommissioned 1990), Maitri (operational since 1988) and Bharati (operational since 2012)
Nodal ministry for atmospheric, oceanic, polar and seismological science; coordinates IMD, NCMRWF, NCPOR, INCOIS, NIOT and other institutes
India's national meteorological service and MoES's oldest constituent, over 150 years old
Autonomous MoES institute for India's polar (Antarctic/Arctic) and ocean research, formerly NCAOR
Autonomous MoES body operating the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre, which serves 25 Indian Ocean countries
Autonomous MoES society developing ocean engineering technology — deep-sea mining, desalination, mariculture, ocean observation
Department of Ocean Development (DOD) set up under the Prime Minister's direct purview; India's first Antarctic expedition launched from Goa
Dakshin Gangotri, India's first Antarctic station, established (decommissioned in 1990)
Maitri research station becomes operational in Antarctica
NCAOR (now NCPOR) established in Goa
Ministry of Earth Sciences formed, reorganising DOD and taking charge of IMD, NCMRWF and other bodies
Bharati, India's third and current-generation Antarctic station, becomes operational
MoES celebrates its 20th Foundation Day at Prithvi Bhawan, New Delhi
GS Paper 3 > Science & Technology > Earth Sciences and Government Bodies
Recurring — MoES institutional structure is evergreen UPSC material, refreshed periodically by such milestone events
Set up in 1981 under the Prime Minister's direct charge; reorganised in 2006 to form the Ministry of Earth Sciences
National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Goa (formerly NCAOR, est. 1998) — MoES's autonomous institute for polar and ocean research
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Hyderabad — runs the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre, operational since 2007, serving 25 Indian Ocean countries
MoES's weather forecasting and radar/nowcasting modernisation mission
MoES's mission for deep-sea exploration, mining and marine technology, executed largely through NIOT