Ministry of Earth Sciences Hosts National Media Interaction on 'Mission Mausam' The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) held a national-level media interaction on the ambitious Mission Mausam at Prithvi Bhavan, New Delhi. The session was led by Dr. M Ravichandran, Secretary of MoES, alongside Dr. Mritunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and Dr. V.S. Prasad, Head of the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF). Approved by the Union Cabinet on September 11, 2024, with a budget of ₹2,000 crores over two years, Mission Mausam aims to transform India into a "Weather-Ready" and "Climate-Smart" nation. The mission focuses on advancing the country's weather and climate observation, modeling, and forecasting capabilities, to provide more accurate and timely services. Key Objectives of Mission Mausam: Develop Cutting-Edge Technologies: Introduce next-generation radars, satellites with advanced instr...
India Takes Major Strides in Space and Clean Energy Collaboration with the US
In a significant development under Indo-US space cooperation, an Indian astronaut from the Gaganyaan Mission is set to join the International Space Station, marking a historic milestone for India in global space exploration. This announcement was made by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, during a high-level bilateral meeting at Prithvi Bhavan, where he emphasized the deepening ties between India and the United States in science, technology, and clean energy.
Dr. Singh highlighted the importance of this collaboration, particularly in securing global supply chains across critical sectors such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and clean energy technologies industries that are becoming increasingly vital in our interconnected world. This partnership is poised to drive innovation and strengthen economic and technological resilience on a global scale.
The Union Minister, who also holds portfolios for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, Atomic Energy, and Space, underscored India's ambitious Green Hydrogen Mission. He described it as a key pillar of the country's strategy to decarbonize heavy industries, transportation, and power generation. Dr. Singh emphasized that through robust policy frameworks and international collaborations, India is not only setting the stage for a sustainable energy future but is also committed to leading global efforts to meet climate goals.
Additionally, Dr. Singh announced that India is actively exploring international partnerships and investing in research to support the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). These reactors are expected to play a crucial role in India's clean energy transition, aiding the country’s journey towards energy self-reliance and fulfilling its climate commitments.
Drawing parallels between India’s "Anusandhan" National Research Foundation (NRF) and the United States' National Science Foundation (NSF), Dr. Singh highlighted the vital role these institutions play in advancing scientific research and innovation. He also reaffirmed India's dedication to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s "Panchamrit" climate action plan, which includes ambitious goals such as increasing non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW, reducing carbon emissions by 1 billion tons, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
The meeting also saw contributions from several key Indian officials. Dr. A. K. Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, spoke about the transformative potential of the Indo-US partnership, emphasizing its role in co-creating sustainable solutions for the future. Dr. Ravi Chandran, Secretary of Earth Sciences, highlighted progress in ocean energy and Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies. Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, discussed India's advances in biomass-to-energy conversion and biofuels.
Further insights were shared by Prof. Abhay Karandikar, who spoke on India's progress in emerging technologies like data analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and machine learning. Dr. N Kalaiselvi, Director General of CSIR, highlighted India’s achievements in Lithium-Ion battery development and the importance of sustainable energy storage solutions.
The high-level US delegation, led by John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy, and David Turk, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, echoed the commitment to enhancing cooperation in emerging technologies. The meeting concluded with both nations reaffirming their shared goals of fostering economic growth, ensuring national security, and leading global advancements in technology.
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