Ministry of Earth Sciences Focuses on Research Solutions for Coastal Communities

The Union Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), T Srinivasa Kumar, has stated that the government is committed to ensuring scientific research and technological advancements directly benefit ordinary citizens, particularly coastal and marginalized communities vulnerable to climate change.

Speaking at the valedictory function of a three-day international symposium on fisheries and remote sensing at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kumar noted that steps are being taken to translate scientific research and technological innovations into practical solutions for climate-related challenges.

During his address, Kumar highlighted several key initiatives currently undertaken by the Ministry. The Deep Ocean Mission focuses on exploring the deep sea, developing indigenous technologies, and strengthening ocean observation services. Additionally, the integrated Earth system science programme known as PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI) brings together research on the atmosphere, oceans, cryosphere, and solid Earth to strengthen weather, climate, ocean, and hazard-related services.

Kumar also detailed Mission Mausam, an initiative designed to transition India into a weather-ready and climate-smart nation. The mission centers on strengthening observation networks, weather modelling, high-performance computing, and AI-based forecasting. According to the Ministry, the initiative is expected to improve forecast accuracy and ensure timely early warnings for monsoons, cyclones, and extreme weather events.

Furthermore, the Ministry is developing a Blue Economy framework. This framework aims to ensure that ocean observations, scientific research, and related services contribute to sustainable fisheries, coastal livelihoods, and marine conservation while safeguarding ocean health.

The symposium concluded with the adoption of the Kochi Declaration, which calls for coordinated international efforts to address growing threats to marine ecosystems. The declaration proposes an integrated multinational ocean observation system along with free, open, and timely access to ocean data to strengthen climate resilience and promote sustainable management of marine resources. The declaration also emphasizes recognizing ocean data as a shared global resource and ensuring proper preservation and curation of historical ocean datasets. The document was formally handed over to the MoES Union Secretary for consideration and policy-level action.

"The focus of the Ministry of Earth Sciences on translating scientific research into practical solutions opens up significant avenues for technology, data analytics, and climate-tech ventures. Initiatives like Mission Mausam and the Blue Economy framework highlight the growing importance of AI-based forecasting, ocean observation, and sustainable resource management. For entrepreneurs and businesses, aligning innovations with national resilience frameworks and leveraging open ocean data can create scalable, impactful opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and environmental services." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes