Lok Sabha Question No. 3095 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-11
Subject: Research and Training Programmes
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Shri Anup Sanjay Dhotre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3095

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 11 TH  MARCH, 2026

## RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES

## 3095. SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  initiatives  undertaken  to  enhance  human  resource  development  in meteorology, oceanography and related fields;
- (b) the manner in which the Government engages with educational institutions for research and training programmes;
- (c) whether  there  are  any  public  outreach  campaigns  to  raise  awareness  about  climate change, disaster  preparedness  and  environmental  conservation  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d) the details of platforms used to disseminate scientific knowledge to rural and vulnerable populations; and
- (e) the manner in which the Government is fostering international  cooperation in earth sciences education and research?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a) The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has undertaken several initiatives to strengthen human resource development in meteorology, oceanography and allied Earth System Science disciplines. These include support for postgraduate and doctoral programmes through  its  research  institutions,  provision  of  fellowships  such  as  JRF,  SRF  and Research  Associateships, and  organization of specialized  training  programmes, workshops  and  capacity-building  activities.  Under  the  REACHOUT  scheme,  the Ministry supports an MTech. programme in Ocean Engineering at IIT Madras. The Development of Skilled Manpower in Earth System Sciences (DESK) programme has also been launched to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and operational requirements of MoES institutions. MoES has established the International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography (ITCOocean) at INCOIS, Hyderabad, which is recognized as a UNESCO Category-2 Centre and a Regional Training Centre (RTC) under  the  IODE  programme,  to  provide  training  to  national  and  international participants, particularly from Indian Ocean Rim countries. The BIMSTEC Centre for Weather  and  Climate  (BCWC)  at  NCMRWF  conducts  training,  workshops  and capacity-building programmes for BIMSTEC member countries. In addition, the India Meteorological  Department  (IMD ) conducts  regular  training  and  refresher  courses through its training centres at Pune, New Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata. The centres at

Pune and New Delhi are recognized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as Regional Training Centres. Further, MoES supports collaborates with universities, IITs  and  research  institutions  and  supports  research  through  extramural  funding  in Ocean  and  Atmospheric  Sciences,  Geosciences,  Hydrology  &  Cryosphere  and Seismology.

- (b) All institutions functioning under the Ministry advertise internship opportunities for students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate degrees twice a year. In addition, several universities and academic institutions have signed Memorandum of Understanding  (MoUs)  with  organizations  under  the  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences (MoES),  facilitating  joint  research  activities  involving  faculty  members,  research scholars,  and  graduate  as  well  as  postgraduate  students  from  academia.  Since  each institute/centre under the Ministry has a specialized mandate, these institutes/centres organize  domain-specific  training  programmes  from  time  to  time.  Furthermore, scientists and officers of the Ministry and its affiliated institutes/centres are also deputed to participate in specialized training and skill development programmes conducted by various educational institutions. Under the IMD training centres, the Development of Skilled Manpower in Earth System Sciences (DESK), the International Training Centre for  Operational  Oceanography  (ITCOocean),  BIMSTEC  Centre  for  Weather  and Climate (BCWC) and REACHOUT program the training is imparted in various fields of Earth science.
- (c) Yes Sir. The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) undertakes various public outreach and awareness initiatives to promote understanding of climate change, disaster preparedness and environmental conservation. The OUTREACH  program of REACHOUT supports the awareness programs about climate change and issues related to EARTH  science  in  various Institutes/ colleges and schools. These include organization of public lectures, workshops, exhibitions and outreach programmes by its institutions; and observance of events such as World Meteorological Day, Ocean Day, coastal  cleaning  drive,  and  Earth  Science  related  campaigns.  The  Ministry  also collaborates with educational institutions, State Governments and other stakeholders to enhance public awareness and preparedness for weather and climate-related hazards.
- (d) The  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences  (MoES)  disseminates  scientific  information  and advisories  to  rural  and  vulnerable  populations  through  multiple  platforms.  These include web portals, mobile applications, social media platforms, television, radio, and SMS-based alert systems for timely weather forecasts and early warnings. Institutions under the Ministry, particularly the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Indian National  Centre  for  Ocean  Information  Services  (INCOIS),  issue  location-specific forecasts and early warnings related to extreme weather events, cyclones, storm surges and ocean conditions. These advisories are shared with State Governments, disaster management  authorities, fishermen and farming communities, and are further disseminated through local administration, community networks and media channels to ensure wider reach, especially in rural and coastal areas.
- (e) The  Government  fosters  international  cooperation  in  Earth  sciences  education  and research through collaborations with leading global institutions, international organizations and partner countries. The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) promotes joint research  projects, exchange  of  scientists  and  researchers,  participation in international  training  programmes,  workshops  and  conferences,  and  sharing  of scientific  expertise. MoES institutions  also enter into  Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with foreign universities and research organizations to facilitate collaborative research,  capacity  building  and  academic  exchanges  in  areas  such  as  meteorology, oceanography, climate science, polar research and Earth system modelling. In addition, the Ministry participates in several international  initiatives  such  as the Weather and Climate Science for Service Partnership (WCSSP) programme with the UK Met Office, the MoES-UK Momentum Partnership, and the 'Monsoon Desk' collaboration under Monsoon  Mission  with  the  National  Oceanic  and  Atmospheric  Administration (NOAA), USA for enhanced monsoon research and forecasting. MoES also actively participates in international platforms such as the Belmont Forum and maintains close collaboration with global organizations including the World Meteorological Organization  (WMO)  and  the  United  Nations  Development  Programme  (UNDP). Further, the Ministry works with leading international research agencies such as the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and partner institutions in countries including Germany, Norway, France, Japan, Sweden, Australia and Switzerland for collaborative research, capacity building and knowledge exchange in Earth system sciences.

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