Portfolio · Ministry of Earth Sciences
Earth Sciences
The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is responsible for India's weather, climate, ocean, polar and seismological services and research. Dr. Jitendra Singh holds it as Minister of State (Independent Charge). He was reassigned the portfolio in June 2024, having previously held it from May to November 2014 and from July 2021 to May 2023.
Tenure record
| Period | Designation | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 27 May – 9 Nov 2014 | MoS (Independent Charge), Science & Technology and Earth Sciences. On 9 November 2014 both portfolios were assigned to Dr. Harsh Vardhan. | Communiqué, 27.05.2014 · 09.11.2014 |
| 7 Jul 2021 – 18 May 2023 | MoS (Independent Charge), Earth Sciences. Took charge on 8 July 2021. On 18 May 2023 the Ministry of Earth Sciences was assigned to Shri Kiren Rijiju. | PIB 1733526 · Communiqué, 18.05.2023 |
| 10 Jun 2024 – present | MoS (Independent Charge), Earth Sciences. Took charge on 11 June 2024. Confirmed in the Cabinet Secretariat list as on 23 June 2026. | PIB 2023817 · PIB 2024184 |
Layer 01 · Institutions
The Ministry's scientific institutions
MoES works through attached offices and autonomous institutes. The institutions below are the ones named in the official releases cited on this page.
India Meteorological Department
The national weather service. It issues forecasts, cyclone warnings and monsoon outlooks.
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune
Developed the Bharat Forecast System, dedicated in May 2025.
National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting
Named with IMD and IITM as an implementing institution of Mission Mausam.
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services
Runs the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre, operational since 15 October 2007.
National Institute of Ocean Technology
Builder of the Matsya-6000 submersible under the Deep Ocean Mission.
National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research
Manages India's Antarctic and Arctic research stations.
Layer 02 · Programmes
Missions & schemes
Approval dates and outlays are as stated in Union Cabinet releases.
| Programme | Approved | Outlay | Scope | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Ocean Mission | 16 Jun 2021 | ₹4,077 cr (5 yrs) Phase 1: ₹2,823.4 cr | Six components, including a crewed submersible for three people to 6,000 m. MoES is the nodal ministry. | PIB 1727525 |
| PRITHVI PRithvi VIgyan umbrella scheme | 5 Jan 2024 | ₹4,797 cr 2021–26 | Brings together five sub-schemes: ACROSS, O-SMART, PACER, SAGE and REACHOUT. | PIB 1993366 |
| Mission Mausam | 11 Sep 2024 | ₹2,000 cr (2 yrs) | Next-generation radars and satellites, supercomputers and AI/ML. Implemented mainly by IMD, IITM and NCMRWF. | PIB 2053896 |
The Prime Minister launched Mission Mausam at IMD's 150th Foundation Day on 14 January 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. A commemorative stamp and coin and the IMD Vision-2047 document were released at the same event (PIB 2092716).
Layer 03 · Deep ocean
Samudrayaan & the Matsya-6000
Samudrayaan is the crewed-submersible part of the Deep Ocean Mission. The Matsya-6000, built by NIOT, is a fourth-generation submersible with a 2.1-metre spherical hull for three people. A PIB release of 17 February 2025 reported that wet tests had been completed at Kattupalli port, and that a 500-metre demonstration was targeted for the end of 2025.
PIB 2104039Indian aquanauts at 5,002 metres
On 5 and 6 August 2025 two Indian aquanauts dived to 4,025 m and 5,002 m in the Atlantic Ocean aboard the French submersible Nautile, in partnership with IFREMER. Announcing the dives on 14 August 2025, Dr. Jitendra Singh said India had joined fewer than half a dozen nations to reach such depths.
PIB 2156508On 26 January 2026, Deep Ocean Mission scientists attended the Republic Day parade as special guests. The Minister felicitated them at Prithvi Bhawan.
PIB 2218823Layer 04 · Atmosphere
Weather, monsoon & forecasting
The dated record below lists forecasting systems launched, and statements made, while Dr. Jitendra Singh held the portfolio.
- 26 May 2025PIB 2131392
Bharat Forecast System dedicated
Dedicated at Vigyan Bhawan. Developed by IITM Pune, it improves forecast resolution from 12 km to 6 km. The release notes that four women scientists led its development. The Minister said: “Science Ministries no longer empower women — we are being empowered by them.”
Implementation Statement - 15 Jan 2026PIB 2214967
IMD 151st Foundation Day
The Minister announced 50 Automatic Weather Stations each for Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Pune in 2026. The release headline reports forecast-accuracy gains of “over 40–50 per cent” and major gains in cyclone track prediction. These are figures reported by the department.
Statement Reported outcome - 12 May 2026PIB 2260258
AI-enabled monsoon advance forecast
The Minister launched IMD's first AI-enabled “Forecast of Monsoon Advance” and a pilot high-resolution rainfall forecast for Uttar Pradesh.
Implementation - 5 Aug 2026PIB 2294888
El Niño outlook, Lok Sabha reply
The reply said the INCOIS AI/ML system indicates the El Niño that developed in May 2026 is likely to persist until February 2027, with a probability of 70–90%. The Minister said El Niño “is not the sole determinant of the monsoon”.
Statement
Layer 05 · Polar science
Antarctic & Arctic stations
A MoES parliamentary reply from 2013 records the operating history of India's polar stations:
- Maitri, Antarctica: operating since 1989;
- Bharati, Antarctica: “constructed and established in March, 2013”;
- Himadri, Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard (Norway): operating since 2008.
NCPOR manages Himadri. As of February 2025, India had conducted 15 Arctic expeditions. In December 2025 the Government approved ₹29.2 crore for pre-investment work and a detailed project report on Maitri-II, a replacement station expected to be complete by 2032.
PIB relid 98006 · PIB 2102740 · PIB 2201536Layer 06 · Hazards
Tsunami early warning
The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre at INCOIS has been operational since 15 October 2007. It detects tsunamigenic earthquakes within 10 minutes. According to a parliamentary reply of 12 February 2026, it monitored 145 earthquakes of magnitude 6.5 or more over the previous five years, and “consistently met all” UNESCO-IOC performance indicators.
Speaking at INCOIS on 26 December 2024, the 20th anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the Minister said India had emerged as a global leader in “disaster warning”.
PIB 2226879 · PIB 2088101