• The Union Cabinet has approved the overarching scheme ‘Prithvi Vigyan’ of ministry of earth sciences (MoES), for implementation during the period from 2021-26 at an overall cost of Rs 4,797 crore. 

The scheme encompasses five ongoing sub-schemes.

They are:

i) Atmosphere and Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems and Services (ACROSS)

ii) Ocean Services, Modelling Application, Resources and Technology (O-SMART)

iii) Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER)

iv) Seismology and Geosciences (SAGE)

v) Research, Education, Training and Outreach (REACHOUT).

The major objectives of Prithvi Vigyan are:

i) Augmentation and sustenance of long-term observations of the atmosphere, ocean, geosphere, cryosphere and solid earth to record the vital signs of the Earth system and change.

ii) Development of modelling systems for understanding and predicting weather, ocean and climate hazards and understanding the science of climate change.

iii) Exploration of polar and high seas regions of the Earth towards discovery of new phenomena and resources.

iv) Development of technology for exploration and sustainable harnessing of oceanic resources for societal applications.

v) Translation of knowledge and insights from Earth systems science into services for societal, environmental and economic benefit.

• Prithvi Vigyan will holistically address all the five components of Earth system to improve the understanding of the Earth System Sciences and to provide reliable services for the country. 

• The overarching scheme will enable development of integrated multi-disciplinary earth science research and innovative programmes across different MoES institutes.

• These integrated research and development efforts will help in addressing the grand challenges of weather and climate, ocean, cryosphere, seismological science and services and explore the living and non-living resources for their sustainable harnessing.

• Various components of ‘Prithvi Vigyan’ scheme are inter-dependent and are carried out in an integrated manner through combined efforts of the concerned Institutes under MoES.

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