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...
The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given the green light to the continuation of three major umbrella schemes, now unified under the central sector scheme titled ‘Vigyan Dhara,’ managed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
What is ‘Vigyan Dhara’?
‘Vigyan Dhara’ is a comprehensive scheme that brings together three crucial components:
- Science and Technology (S&T) Institutional and Human Capacity Building
- Research and Development
- Innovation, Technology Development, and Deployment
With an ambitious budget of Rs. 10,579.84 crore for the 15th Finance Commission period (2021-22 to 2025-26), this unified approach aims to streamline funding, improve efficiency, and create greater synergy across the sub-schemes and programs under its umbrella.
Why ‘Vigyan Dhara’ Matters?
The primary goal of ‘Vigyan Dhara’ is to bolster the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) ecosystem in India. By integrating the three previous schemes, it seeks to enhance the country’s S&T infrastructure, nurturing well-equipped research and development (R&D) laboratories within academic institutions.
Key Focus Areas:
- Cutting-edge Research: Support for fundamental research and access to international mega facilities.
- Sustainable Solutions: Promoting translational research in areas such as sustainable energy and water.
- Global Collaboration: Encouraging international cooperation through bilateral and multilateral partnerships.
- Human Capital Development: Building a skilled workforce to strengthen the S&T landscape, with a particular emphasis on increasing the number of full-time researchers.
- Gender Parity: Focused efforts to boost women’s participation in the S&T field, aiming to achieve gender balance in the Science, Technology, and Innovation sectors.
Aligning with National Vision
‘Vigyan Dhara’ is strategically designed to align with the five-year goals of the DST and the broader vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’. The scheme’s R&D component will be closely integrated with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), ensuring that its implementation meets global standards while addressing national priorities.
Background
The DST has long been at the forefront of organizing, coordinating, and promoting S&T activities across India. By merging the three central sector umbrella schemes—focused on S&T Institutional and Human Capacity Building, Research and Development, and Innovation, Technology Development, and Deployment—into the unified ‘Vigyan Dhara,’ the government is taking a significant step towards a more robust and cohesive STI landscape in the country.
With ‘Vigyan Dhara,’ India is not just preparing for the future; it’s paving the way for a more innovative, technologically advanced, and scientifically capable nation.
Comments