- INCOIS is an autonomous institution established in 1999
- Functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
- Operates as a key unit of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO)
- Headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana
- Serves as India’s nodal agency for ocean information, advisories, and early warning services
Mandate and Core Objective
- To provide reliable, timely, and actionable ocean information
- Supports society, industry, government agencies, defence forces, and the scientific community
- Relies on sustained ocean observations, advanced modelling, and focused research
Key Functional Areas
- Tsunami and Marine Hazard Warning
- Operates the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC)
- Provides 24×7 monitoring for tsunamis, storm surges, high waves, and coastal inundation
- Acts as the national nodal agency for tsunami advisories in India
- International Tsunami Services
- UNESCO–IOC designated ITEWC as a Regional Tsunami Service Provider
- Issues tsunami warnings to Indian Ocean Rim countries
- Strengthens regional disaster preparedness and cooperation
- Fisheries Advisory Services
- Provides Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories
- Helps fishermen locate fish-rich areas
- Reduces fuel consumption, time, and operational risks
- Ocean State Forecasting
- Issues short-term forecasts (3–7 days) on
- Waves
- Ocean currents
- Sea surface temperature
- Supports shipping, oil and gas sector, Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and fishing communities
Ocean Observation and Data Management
- Deploys and maintains Ocean Observing Systems across the Indian Ocean
- Collects data on
- Physical
- Chemical
- Biological ocean parameters
- Conducts quality control, archiving, and dissemination of ocean data
- Data is made accessible to researchers, students, policymakers, and institutions
National and Global Data Roles
- Designated as National Oceanographic Data Centre of India
- Recognised under the International Oceanographic Data Exchange (IODE) programme
- Serves as
- National Argo Data Centre
- Regional Argo Data Centre
- Acts as the regional data clearing house for the Indian Ocean Global Ocean Observing System (IOGOOS)
Advanced Modelling and Climate Support
- Generates Global Ocean Analysis data on a daily basis
- Provides initial conditions for ocean–atmosphere coupled models
- Supports monsoon prediction and climate variability studies
- Enhances understanding of large-scale oceanic processes
Seismic and Geodetic Monitoring
- Established the Indian Seismic and GNSS Network (ISGN)
- Integrates seismic stations and GNSS stations
- Provides high-quality real-time data for
- Earthquake studies
- Tsunami modelling
- Tectonic research
- Operational warning systems
International Cooperation and Capacity Building
- Permanent member of India’s delegation to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
- Founding member of
- Indian Ocean Global Ocean Observing System (IOGOOS)
- Partnership for Observing the Oceans (POGO)
- Actively involved in international training, research exchange, and capacity building
- Hosts
- IOGOOS Secretariat
- Sustained Indian Ocean Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research (SIBER) Programme Office
Multi-Hazard Early Warning Support
- Provides ocean forecasts to Africa and Asia through RIMES
- Supports multi-hazard early warning systems
- Strengthens regional resilience against ocean-related disasters
Overall Significance
- INCOIS is central to India’s shift towards science-based disaster risk reduction
- Enhances coastal safety, livelihood security, and marine governance
- Plays a strategic role in climate services, national security, and Blue Economy objectives
- Acts as a bridge between ocean science, policy formulation, and public welfare
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)
