India has embarked on an ambitious ₹4,797 crore umbrella initiative called PRITHVI to advance atmospheric, oceanic, polar and geoscience research over 2021-2026. Anchored by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), PRITHVI encompasses five sub-schemes – ACROSS, O-SMART, PACER, SAGE and REACHOUT – that aim to strengthen the observation, modeling, prediction and management of the Earth system spanning weather, climate, resources and hazards.
Advancing Atmospheric Science and Services
Observing Systems
- Under PRITHVI, 1,000 new automatic weather stations and 1,000 automatic rain gauges will be installed across India by 2026
- 50 additional air quality monitoring stations will track pollution levels across cities
- 50 new Doppler weather radars operating in X-band frequency range will provide high-resolution weather data
Modeling
- The ACROSS sub-scheme will develop variable-grid coupled models with 2-3 km resolution for localized weather prediction
- Climate and agriculture risk assessment platforms will integrate climate projections, crop models and socio-economic data at district level
- Supercomputing infrastructure up to 10 petaflops will be set up to run data-intensive atmospheric models
Services
- Block-level ensemble weather forecasts and crop-specific advisories will be made available for 50 million farmers on mobile apps and SMS
- Automated weather alerts through multiple communication channels will equip 100 most vulnerable districts to build climate resilience and manage disasters
- Customized weather and ocean state forecasts will directly benefit 2 million fishers and 500 offshore platforms by 2025
Ocean Science and Technology
Observations
- 30 coastal radar systems will provide hourly data on winds, waves and surface currents
- 100 wave buoys and 50 tidal stations will expand real-time monitoring of sea state
- A fleet of 50 underwater gliders and 1,000 Argo floats will measure subsurface temperature and salinity
Modeling
- High-resolution ocean models will use AI to assimilate multiple data streams and provide 5-day forecasts on eddies, oil spill trajectories etc.
- Biogeochemical models will simulate marine carbon and nitrogen cycles in the Indian Ocean at 5 km resolution
Technology Development
- 20 different sensors and samplers will be developed for observation and monitoring below 2000 m sea depth
- A network of 5 indigenously developed marine sensor fabrication facilities will be setup
Services
- Customized ocean forecast services on potential fishing zones, waves, currents etc. will be provided to 200 coastal districts
- Certification scheme will be introduced for offshore platforms compliance to environment and safety standards
- A dedicated blue economy business cell will provide technical and regulatory support to 100 maritime startups/SMEs
Polar Science
Cryosphere Monitoring
- 5 new observatories will expand atmospheric monitoring in Arctic (Himadri) and Antarctic (Maitri)
- Station network will provide sustained data on ice sheet, glacier melting, snow cover, permafrost
- Biological tracking will reveal breeding and migration patterns of 50 polar species
Modeling
- Improved ice sheet models will simulate Antarctic and Greenland ice mass loss at 10 km resolution
- Snow models will incorporate layer-based physics for better climate projections
- Studies at Maitri and Himadri will assess adaptivity of extremophiles in low temperature environments
Expeditions & Research
- 5 scientific expeditions are planned to Arctic and Antarctic during 2021-2025 using ice breaker ships
- Underwater gliders, aerial vehicles and drifting buoys will expand data gathering
- Field surveys and satellite data analysis will provide new insights into sea ice extent, iceberg calving, microbiome etc.
Seismology and Geoscience
SAGE focuses on deepening understanding of geodynamic processes that shape regional geology, while advancing earthquake monitoring and risk reduction practices.
Observation Systems
- 35 new seismic observatories will be established in the Himalayan belt and North East by 2025
- 100 high precision GPS stations will be installed across seismic zones for continuous deformation monitoring
- Microzonation testing will map earthquake hazard pockets across 30 Indian cities
Research
- Dedicated geoscience research programs in 10 institutions will study evolution of Gondwana land, Indian monsoon system etc.
- A fault atlas will catalog known active faults spanning over 10,000 km in the Himalayas and adjoining areas
- Pilot projects will assess geothermal energy potential in Ladakh, North East and West Coast regions
Mitigation
- Technical guidelines will specify location-specific reinforcement measures for quake-resistant building infrastructure
- Simulation exercises and community training will prepare disaster response teams across 50 most earthquake-prone districts
- School safety awareness initiatives will cover 5,000 schools in high seismic risk areas
Education and Outreach
REACHOUT initiatives focus on promoting earth system and disaster science education, strengthening domestic R&D capacity, and fostering global partnerships under PRITHVI.
Academic Programs
- 1,000 PhD fellowships in earth system sciences will be awarded over 5 years at research institutes like IITM, NCPOR
- 10 new Centers of Excellence will advance research in climate modeling, glaciology, seismology etc.
Science Communication
- Targeted awareness campaigns on 150 TV channels will reach 5 crore households by 2025
- 1 crore students across 5 lakh schools will be covered under special weather/climate literacy programs
- 25 dedicated apps will improve access to weather advisories, earthquake alerts and more
International Collaborations
- 10 strategic partnerships are planned for sharing ocean forecast data, polar research platforms etc. by 2025
- 5 international joint modeling centers will leverage global expertise to advance monsoon prediction capability
- 100 young researchers will get overseas exposure through exchange programs annually
The PRITHVI scheme exemplifies India’s leadership in leveraging science and technology for national development. Over 2021-2026, the initiatives promise major advances across weather and climate services, blue economy, polar and geosciences – boosting R&D capabilities while benefiting millions through actionable insights.