PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)

The Union Cabinet Chaired by the Prime Minister of India has approved the overarching scheme ‘PRITHvi Vigyan’ (PRITHVI).

Implemented by – Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).

The research & development and operational (services) activities of MoES are carried out by 10 Institutes of MoES.

Timeline – 2021-26, at an overall cost of Rs. 4,797 crore.

It encompasses 5 ongoing sub-schemes namely

- ACROSS – Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services
- O-SMART – Ocean Services, Modelling Application, Resources and Technology
- PACER – Polar Science and Cryosphere Research
- SAGE – Seismology and Geosciences
- REACHOUT – Research, Education, Training and Outreach

Objectives

- To observe the atmosphere, ocean, geosphere, cryosphere and solid earth.
- To predict weather, ocean and climate hazards.
- To explore polar and high seas regions of the Earth.
- To do sustainable harnessing of oceanic resources.
- To translate the knowledge of Earth systems science into services for societal, environmental and economic benefit.

Earth System Sciences deal with all the 5 components of the earth system namely atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere and their complex interactions.

Significance – It will enable development of integrated multi-disciplinary earth science research and will help in addressing the grand challenges of weather and climate, ocean, cryosphere, seismological science and services.

O-SMART

The scheme encompasses a total of 16 sub-projects addressing ocean development activities such as Services, Technology, Resources, Observations and Science.

The services rendered under the O-SMART will provide economic benefits to a number of user communities in the coastal and ocean sectors, namely, fisheries, offshore industry, coastal states, Defence, Shipping, Ports etc.

Objectives

The objectives of O-SMART (Ocean Services, Modelling, Applications, Resources and Technology) scheme of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Govt. of India are

To generate and regularly update information on Marine Living Resources and their relationship with the physical environment in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ),
To periodically monitor levels of sea water pollutants for health assessment of coastal waters of India, to develop shoreline change maps for assessment of coastal erosion due to natural and anthropogenic activities,
To develop a wide range of state-of-the art ocean observation systems for acquisition of real-time data from the seas around India,
To generate and disseminate a suite of user-oriented ocean information, advisories, warnings, data and data products for the benefit of society,
To develop high resolution models for ocean forecast and reanalysis system,
To develop algorithms for validation of satellite data for coastal research and to monitor changes in the coastal research,
Acquisition of 2 Coastal Research Vessels (CRVs) as replacement of 2 old CRVs for coastal pollution monitoring, testing of various underwater components and technology demonstration,
To develop technologies to tap the marine bio resources,
To develop technologies generating freshwater and energy from ocean,
To develop underwater vehicles and technologies,
Establishment of Ballast water treatment facility,
To support operation and maintenance of 5 Research vessels for ocean survey/monitoring/technology demonstration programmes,
Establishment of state of the art sea front facility to cater to the testing and sea trial activities of ocean technology,
To carryout exploration of Polymetallic Nodules (MPN) from water depth of 5500 m in site of 75000 sq.km allotted to India by United Nations in Central Indian Ocean Basin, to carryout investigations of gas hydrates,
Exploration of polymetallic sulphides near Rodrigues Triple junction in 10000 sq. km of area allotted to India in International waters by International Seabed Authority/UN and,
Submission of India’s claim over continental shelf extending beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone supported by scientific data, and Topographic survey of EEZ of India.

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