New Delhi – In a landmark move to enhance India’s climate resilience and scientific prowess, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh unveiled 14 transformative scientific products and digital tools developed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) at its 19th Foundation Day celebrations held in the national capital.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Singh emphasized the decade-long transformation of the Ministry into a citizen-centric scientific institution, highlighting the critical role of science and innovation in ecological sustainability and economic development.
🌦️ Empowering Citizens Through Real-Time Science
Dr. Singh stressed that India has now entered an era where live weather updates, cyclone alerts, ocean forecasts, and air quality reports are just a tap away on mobile phones. He credited the Government’s mission-mode governance and MoES’s integrated public service approach for this shift.
“This is the result of a Government that works in mission mode and a Ministry that has transformed itself into a citizen-service institution,” he stated.
🔬 Launch of 14 Scientific Products and Digital Services
Among the major launches were:
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Bharat Forecast System – ERP for extended range weather predictions
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Rainfall monitoring tools and crop-weather calendars
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High-resolution rainfall datasets
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Wave atlases, updated seabed charts, and marine biodiversity reports
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Seismic microzonation studies for four cities
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Air quality forecasting models
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A new IMD-produced documentary titled “Life Saving Impact”
📡 Infrastructure Growth in a Decade
The Minister underscored the Ministry’s progress over the last ten years:
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Doppler weather radars increased from 15 (2014) to 41 (2025)
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Doubling of seismic stations, upper-air systems, and lightning detection networks
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Rapid earthquake alerts issued within 2-3 minutes, now accessed by lakhs
He highlighted how the IMD’s cyclone forecasting improvements have saved thousands of lives since the 1999 Odisha cyclone tragedy.
🚜 Agriculture & Coastal Services: Direct Benefits to Citizens
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7+ lakh farmers now rely on Meghdoot app for weather-based agricultural planning.
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Coastal fishermen receive daily SMS advisories for safe and fuel-efficient fishing operations.
“These tools are not abstract science. They are daily utilities for farmers, fishermen, and citizens,” the Minister affirmed.
🌊 Oceans and the Future: Deep Ocean Mission & Lakshadweep
Dr. Singh spotlighted India’s deep-sea vision:
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In Lakshadweep, 6 Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plants now generate 1.5 lakh litres/day of drinking water.
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Pitched the Deep Ocean Mission and Samudrayaan project (India’s manned deep-sea mission) as economic game-changers.
“Just as Gaganyaan will take one Indian into space, Samudrayaan will take another 6 km under the ocean. One up, one down—that’s the vision,” he said.
📈 Budget Surge and Vision for the Future
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MoES budget rose from ₹1,281 crore in 2014 to ₹3,658 crore in 2024.
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Minister credited sustained Government support and called on scientists to maintain this momentum.
He also called for enhanced public outreach, urging collaboration with other ministries and digital platforms to promote scientific awareness in local languages.
🎓 Dignitaries in Attendance
The event was graced by:
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Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES
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Shri D. Senthil Pandiyan, Joint Secretary
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Dr. Mrutyunjay Mahapatra, DG, IMD
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Dr. Vijay Kumar, Programme Head
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Prof. Dev Niyogi, UNESCO Chair, University of Texas (virtual address)
✅ Conclusion: A Decade of Transformation, A Future of Exploration on Climate
The 19th Foundation Day of the Ministry of Earth Sciences marked a turning point in India’s climate preparedness and science-led citizen service delivery. As the country eyes new frontiers—from deep oceans to outer space—MoES is positioning itself as a pivotal arm in India’s journey toward sustainable development, disaster resilience, and economic transformation through innovation.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Singh emphasized the decade-long transformation of the Ministry into a citizen-centric scientific institution, highlighting the critical role of science and innovation in ecological sustainability and economic development
Source: PIB
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