The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) celebrated its 18th Foundation Day today at its Prithvi Bhavan Headquarters, marking nearly two decades of significant contributions to Earth system sciences. Founded on July 27, 2006, MoES has been at the forefront of scientific research and services. The Ministry’s achievements span across all spheres of Earth system sciences: air (atmosphere), water (hydrosphere), land (lithosphere), solid earth (cryosphere), and life (biosphere), reflecting its commitment to scientific and technological progress.
To commemorate its 18th Foundation Day, MoES launched several significant publications:
- Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi: CMLRE released a catalogue entitled ‘Taxonomy and Systematics of Anomuran Crabs (Paguroidea, Chirostyloidea, and Galatheoidea) from the Indian EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone)’. This effort contributes to capacity building in deep-sea taxonomy and aligns with the marine biodiversity documentation and conservation efforts of the Ministry.
- India Meteorological Department (IMD): IMD released the ‘Standard Operating Procedure on “Cyclone Warning in India”’ and the ‘Competency Framework for Monitoring and Forecasting High-impact Weather Events’. These documents will aid stakeholders in more efficient and timely disaster mitigation efforts.
- National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa: NCPOR released a consolidated report on the 14th Indian Arctic Expedition (2023-24), including India’s maiden winter Arctic Expedition launched on December 18, 2023. The report provides in-depth information on scientific projects and field activities conducted under the Indian Arctic Expedition, organised by NCPOR. It will be available on NCPOR’s website.
- MoES Newsletter: The first issue of the MoES Newsletter, envisaged to be a quarterly publication highlighting news, events, and updates from MoES, was also released.
These publications reflect MoES’s ongoing dedication to advancing scientific understanding and technological innovation in Earth system sciences.