Ministry of Earth Sciences and Government of Puducherry Sign Landmark MoU to Bolster Blue Economy and Coastal Resilience

India, Feb. 12 -- The Government of India has issued a release:

The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, and the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Government of Puducherry, today formally entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance marine research, infrastructure development, and blue economy initiatives within the Union Territory of Puducherry.

The agreement was signed in New Delhi by Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES, and Dr. Sharat Chauhan, Chief Secretary, Government of Puducherry. This collaboration stems from high-level engagements between the Hon'ble Union Minister of State for Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, and the Hon'ble Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry, Shri. K. Kailashnathan to address regional maritime priorities.

The MoU outlines a comprehensive framework for cooperation across six strategic areas designed to promote sustainable development and climate adaptation:

Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, stated, "This partnership marks a significant step in our commitment to harnessing science for the benefit of coastal communities. By integrating MoES's technical expertise with Puducherry's strategic maritime location, we are not only addressing immediate challenges like coastal erosion and expanding ocean services but also laying the foundation for a robust, sustainable Blue Economy. Our focus remains on delivering end-to-end support-from real-time climate monitoring to the operationalization of advanced desalination and renewable energy technologies."

To ensure the success of these initiatives, both parties will designate Nodal Officers and establish Joint Working Groups to oversee specific projects. The MoU is set for an initial duration of five years, with progress reviews conducted at least annually to ensure timely implementation.

During this event, Dr. M.V. Ramana Murthy (Mission Director, Deep Ocean Mission), Shri D Senthil Pandian (Joint Secretary, MoES), Dr. Vijay Kumar, Scientist G & Adviser, MoES, Dr. Balaji Ramakrishnan (Director, National Institute of Ocean Technology), and officers of the Government of Puducherry and the Ministry of Earth Sciences were also present.

Picture: Ministry of Earth Sciences and Government of Puducherry Sign Landmark MoU to Bolster Blue Economy and Coastal Resilience on February 12, 2026, in New Delhi.

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.