Ministry of Earth Sciences


The Ministry of Earth Sciences is an executive ministry of the Government of India, established on 29 January, 2006. It was formed through the reorganisation of the Department of Ocean Development and the assumption of administrative control over various institutions, including the India Meteorological Department, the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and the Earth Risk Evaluation Centre.

History

In 1981, the Government of India established the Department of Ocean Development under the Cabinet Secretariat, directly reporting to the Prime Minister of India. In 1982, it became a separate department and began focusing on ocean development activities. In 2006, the department was elevated to a Ministry, known as the Ministry of Ocean Development. Later that same year, the ministry underwent reorganisation, and the Ministry of Earth Sciences was created, incorporating various institutions under its jurisdiction. Through a government resolution in 2006, the India Meteorological Department, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting and Research were brought under its administrative control. The resolution also led to the establishment of an Earth Commission, modelled after the Atomic Energy Commission and the Space Commission.
The ministry is currently headed by Jitendra Singh.

Functions

The Ministry's mandate is to look after Atmospheric Sciences, Ocean Science & Technology and Seismology in an integrated fashion.

Organisation

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Networking

All institutions under ESSO are connected through National Knowledge Network and its Common User Group.