GS Paper 2
Syllabus: Structure, Organization, and Functioning of the Ministries and Departments of the Government
Source: DTE
Context: According to a Parliamentary committee report, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) made progress but has been ‘sluggish’ on a few counts.
Progress report of MoES:
| Initiatives | Note | Progress |
| Establishing District Agro-meteorological Field Units (DAMU) | ● Improve the quality of weather services for farmers
● IMD targets to set up 660 DAMUs by 2025 |
In 2021-22, 3 DAMUs were established (at Kupwara in J&K, Almora, and Pithoragarh in the UK), however, the target was 20. |
| Installing and commissioning Doppler Weather Radars (DWR) | ● Can predict extreme weather events
● The entire country will be covered by DWR Network by 2025 |
So far, only six DWRs have been installed in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Leh, and Aya Nagar in Delhi |
| Installing Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), Climate Reference stations, and X-band radars | Study cloud development and light precipitation | Currently, 727 AWSs exist and the ministry is procuring more to realise its target |
| Polar studies | ● Need to replace or upgrade the Maitri Station in Antarctica, which was set up in 1988.
● The committee hopes the proposed new Station – Maitri-II, will be completed on time. |
Delay in acquiring a polar research vessel (PRV), which was approved in 2010.
|
Major schemes of MoES:
- The atmosphere and Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems and Services (ACROSS)
- Ocean-Services, Modelling, Application, Resources, and Technology (O-SMART)
- POLAR SCIENCE AND CRYOSPHERE RESEARCH (PACER)
- Seismology and Geosciences (SAGE)
- Research, Education, Training, and Outreach (REACHOUT)
- Deep Ocean Mission (DOM)
Way ahead:
- To revisit its performance in terms of the realization of physical targets set under various
- As acquiring the funds has been challenging, getting in-principle approval from the Department of Expenditure for different initiatives.
