S.No. | Partner Agency | Areas of Cooperation Date of Signature |
Major accomplishments |
1 | Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), UNESCO. |
LoI on cooperation for
November 25, 2014. |
LoI between India and UNESCO on cooperation for reducing disaster risks and INCOIS has been designated as the National Oceanographic Data Centre by the International Oceanographic Data Exchange Programme (IODE) of International Oceanographic Commission (IOC). Further, INCOIS serves as the National Argo Data Centre, Regional Argo Data Centre, and also the regional data centre and clearing house for the Indian Ocean region for the IOGOOS Programme. International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography (ITCOocean)< established at INCOIS, Hyderabad was upgraded to UNESCO Category 2 Centre. |
2 | Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM). |
India is Consultative member of Antarctic Treaty since September 12, 1983. |
India as a fifteenth Consultative Member of the Antarctic Treaty, participates in the Annual meetings during which decisions relating to Antarctica are taken with the consent of all the Consultative Parties. The XXX-ATCM was held in India in 2006, during which India got permission for its third station Bharti. During the last 3 years, India has participated in all ATCM meetings and contributed Information and working papers, both science and environmental aspects. ATCM for the year 2023 will be held in India.
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3 | Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). |
India is a member of SCAR since 1984 |
Director NCPOR(MoES) is Vice president of the SCAR committee. By virtue of this, India actively participates and contributes in generating high quality international scientific research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Indian Scientists are now members of many Scientific Program committee to steer Antarctic Research. During the SCAR 2019 meeting, India bid for hosting SCAR-2022 International Open Science Conference and SCAR delegates unanimously approved the same. SCAR 2020 Open Science conference was organised in a virtual mode. More than 50 Scientists from India participated in various capacities and Director, NCPOR chaired two of the sessions.
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4 | Convention on Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). |
India has acceded to the CCAMLR's treaty in 1985 and become a permanent member along with 24 other nations |
India has acceded to the CCAMLR's treaty in 1985 and become a permanent
member along with 24 other nations. CMLRE (MoES) is coordinating the work of CCAMLR. From the beginning, India remained as a non-fishing nation whilst involving in the activities related to the management measures aiming at the conservation of Krill and fin fishes which are one of the major resources found in southern oceans. In the year 1996, India undertook a survey onboard the vessel FORV Sagar Sampada and contributed to the evaluation of Krill resources stock assessment. Working Group on Ecosystem Monitoring and Management (WG-EMM) of CCAMLR lauded the work of Indian scientists in Antarctic waters during the First Indian Krill Expedition onboard FORV Sagar Sampada. However, out of 24 countries who are signatory to CCAMLR, few countries including India are yet to start commercial fishing.
India is a regular participant in the WG-EMM meetings, which mainly discuss the scientific updates and inputs for the efficient management of Krill resources
CCAMLR is effectively managing Krill and other fin fish resources which are the largest fishery resources from world oceans by adopting ecosystem approach. India would stand to gain experience from the management measures adopted in CCAMLR for sustainable management of marine living resources in Indian EEZ. Besides, the national policy for fishery have recognized the importance of expanding deep sea fishery for meeting the growing needs of per capita protein requirement in India. By being a member in CCAMLR, India holds the option for exercising its rights for fishery but limiting to catch quota from CCAMLR’s convention area.
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5 | Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (CONMAP). |
India is a member of COMNAP |
NCPOR is one among the 30 members of COMNAP as National Antarctic Programs. This is mainly for logistic coordination between countries who operate Antarctic Expedition. India is actively participating in all annual COMNAP meetings and India is the Vice Chairman of East Antarctica related Logistics and Operations. One of the Indian Doctor is nominated for Advisory Council Member for International Antarctic COVID cell. India had helped the Russian Logistics team by providing Indian Piston Bully vehicles when they were in need. Also, the Russian Ice breaker helped an Indian hired vessel when it was in distress during 2018-19 season. This could be possible only because of the COMNAP mechanism.
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6 | Arctic Council. | India is an Observer in Arctic Council since 2013 |
India obtained an observer status in Arctic Council in 2013 and was re-elected again as an observer in May 2019. MoES has a permanent station Himadri in the Arctic. There are 6 working groups of Arctic Council and India is actively participating in most of the working groups. Also, India is actively contributing to the Arctic Council’s many subordinate bodies, such as Arctic University, Sustained the Arctic Observing Networks, Arctic Migratory Birds initiative, etc. Considering Arctic sea ice is melting due to Climate change and the potential resource availability in the Arctic, India has to be involved in Arctic affairs for both Scientific and Geostrategic reasons. National Security Council Secretariat is now finalizing the Arctic Policy in which MoES will be leading the scientific activities.
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7 | Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS). |
MoES is an associate member of CEOS. |
CEOS comprises of 34 members and 28 Associates from all over the world. It ensures international coordination of civil space-based Earth observation programs and promotes exchange of data to optimize societal benefit and inform decision making for securing a prosperous and sustainable future for humankind. CEOS brings these organisations together to collaborate on satellite missions,data systems, and global initiatives that benefit society and align with their own Agency missions and priorities.
MoES is an associate member of CEOS and is benefitted by the information on the various satellite missions all over the world. MoES is a prime user of the global Satellite data for monitoring, understanding and prediction of Weather,Climate and Ocean State.
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8 | Belmont Forum. |
Memorandum of February 27, 2013. |
Under an MoU signed in February 2013, between MoES and the Belmont forum Countries (a group of the world’s major and emerging funders of global environmental change research and international science councils ) to support Indian Scientists for international collaborative research through joint calls in societally relevant global environmental change challenges, MoES is participating in 5 Collaborative Research Areas (CRA) namely Coastal Vulnerability, Food Security, Biodiversity, Climate Predictability and Inter-regional linkages and Ocean Sustainability. In all, MoES has supported 12 projects involving over 17 Indian scientists from MoES institutes as well as other Indian Universities/institutes. The projects have helped in augmenting our scientific understanding and capacity building. MoES is also a member of the Steering Committee of the Belmont Forum.
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9 | BIMSTEC Member Countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mynamar, Thailand, Bhutan and India). |
MoA on establishment of March 04, 2014. |
Weather forecasts are prepared in real-time for the BIMSTEC countries and are
uploaded in ESSO-NCMRWF website. Following the first Governing Board meeting held at BIMSTEC center for Weather and Climate (BCWC) at NCMRWF, India is declared as the Chairman of the Governing Board for the first term. Subsequently several BIMSTEC nations have approached NCMRWF for the weather and climate products and capacity building. The BCWC has agreed to undertake capacity building for 2-3 scientists from National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology, Bhutan with an aim to upgrade their knowledge in the medium range forecasting for agriculture planning and decision support. The 1 st BIMSTEC- Intergovernmental Expert Group Meeting on Disaster Management was held by the National Disaster Management Authority during 14 th Feb 2020 at Puri, Odisha. The BCWC organized an Online Science Workshop cum Training on “Use of Ensemble Model Products for Weather/Climate” during 24-26 March 2021 with participation from all BIMSTEC nations.
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10 | Met Office (UK), CSIRO (Australia), BoM (Australia), KMA (Korea), NIWA (New Zealand), MoES (India). |
Consortium Agreement on January 19, 2016. Renewed for a further |
Meetings of the Unified Model Partnership are held once a year and is attended by the core partners from UK -UKMo, India -MoES, South Korea-KMA, Australia-CSIRO and BMB, New Zealand-NIWA and the Associate members. The partners discuss the Next Generation Modelling System. NCMRWF developed and implemented the latest UM based Hybrid 4D-Var global data assimilation system with all sky radiance assimilation capabilities. NCMRWF is a member of Global Coupled Programme Board which is working on Global coupled model evaluation, development and implementation process cycle. Under this partnership, NCMRWF has developed & implemented regional land data assimilation system for soil moisture assimilation. UM Partnership in collaboration with US Air Force & NCAR organized the 4th Convective Scale Modelling Workshop at NCAR, Boulder during 28-31 January 2020. India being a partner participated in the same. Severe Weather Warning products from NCUM-R like maximum wind gust, lightning flash counts and mean surface dust concentration were developed and operationalized. DM-Chem was developed and operationally run for winter period of 2019-20 to demonstrate the impact of interactive aerosol on the fog and visibility prediction.
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11 | World Meteorological Agency (WMO), Geneva, Switzerland. |
DG IMD is the permanent representative of India in WMO, a UN body. |
IMD New Delhi has recently been designated as the nodal center for South Asia Flash Flood Guidance System (SAsiaFFGS). It provides flash flood guidance for South Asian region including Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India.
SAsiaFFGS implementation Plan.
Severe Weather forecast guidance issued daily valid for next 5 days on (i)heavy rainfall (ii) Strong wind (iii) storm threat.
Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) New Delhi is the nodal center along with 13 member countries Bangladesh, India, Iran Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen and issues Tropical cyclones and storm surge advisories for WMO ESCAPE panel countries. It also provides support for Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) for the north Indian Ocean and cyclone advisories on forecast track & intensity for next 24 hours and area of intense convective clouds to Asia Pacific countries and Middle East countries for civil aviation as per International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines.
Regional Climate Centre (RCC), Pune is WMO recognized climate Centre for RA-II region (May-2017).
Meteorological Training Institute (MTI) Pune is WMO recognized regional training center for RA-II as well as RA-V officials. In the last 10 years 40 foreign nationals have undergone training courses. Besides, customized tailor-made short term training programs are designed and conducted for updating the knowledge & skill of Meteorological personnel. In the last 10 years about 50 overseas participants attended such courses.
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12 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Argentine Republic, Argentina. |
MoU on Antarctic co- February 18, 2019. |
The potential areas of scientific and logistic cooperation under the MoU were discussed with delegation of Argentina during the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Prague, Czech Republic. The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting scheduled to be held in Finland during May 25 - June 4 2020 was cancelled due to COVID-19.
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