MockSutraCurrent Affairs

Ministry of Earth Sciences Marks 20th Foundation Day, Launches Weather & Ocean Initiatives

30 July 2026National

On 27 July 2026, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) celebrated its 20th Foundation Day at Prithvi Bhawan, New Delhi, marking two decades of work in weather forecasting, oceanography, seismology and polar research. The event was presided over by MoES Secretary Dr N. Kalaiselvi. Key launches included: the India Meteorological Department (IMD) establishing 13 Centres of Excellence, upgrading the Thiruvananthapuram Cyclone Warning Centre to an Area Cyclone Warning Centre, and launching IMD NOVA for thunderstorm nowcasting; the NCMRWF's WINGS mobile app and a National Doppler Weather Radar Reflectivity Mosaic; and the National Centre for Seismology releasing the Strong Motion Atlas of India (2010-2020).

Static GK

IMD (India Meteorological Department) founded in 1875; HQ New Delhi | IMD's 150th anniversary fell in 2025 | MoES also oversees INCOIS, NCPOR and the National Centre for Seismology | Dr N. Kalaiselvi also led CSIR as its first woman Director-General

⚡ Quick Revision

The Ministry of Earth Sciences marked its 20th Foundation Day (27 July 2026), launching IMD NOVA, the WINGS app and the Strong Motion Atlas of India (2010-2020).

More International Current Affairs

Ministry of Earth Sciences Marks 20th Foundation Day, Launches New Weather and Ocean Initiatives

The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) celebrated its 20th Foundation Day at Prithvi Bhawan, New Delhi, presided over by Secretary Dr. N. Kalaiselvi. Key launches include: the India Meteorological Department (IMD) established 13 Centres of Excellence, upgraded the Thiruvananthapuram Cyclone Warning Centre to an Area Cyclone Warning Centre (ACWC), and launched IMD NOVA for thunderstorm nowcasting. The NCMRWF introduced the WINGS mobile app for numerical weather prediction and a National Doppler Weather Radar Reflectivity Mosaic. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) released the Strong Motion Atlas of India (2010–2020), and the CMLRE released marine taxonomic manuals.

GK ByteMoES formed: 2006 | IMD established: 1875, HQ New Delhi | India's monsoon & cyclone forecasts: IMD | National Centre for Seismology monitors earthquakes | NCMRWF located at: Noida
📅 29 Jul 2026InternationalRead complete →

HCLTech and Sarvam to Build Rs 14,257 Crore AI Data Centre in Odisha

On 24 July 2026, HCLTech announced it will set up its first AI Data Centre in the upcoming Odisha Sovereign AI Park, in partnership with AI startup Sarvam and the Government of Odisha, with a planned capital outlay of Rs 14,257 crore (total project ~Rs 15,000 crore across the three entities). It will provide secure, scalable digital infrastructure for government, research bodies, startups and enterprises. HCLTech will also set up a Global Delivery Centre (GDC) in the state, creating about 5,000 jobs, with operations expected to begin by 2028. It forms part of HCLTech's entry into the full-stack AI market.

GK ByteHCLTech HQ: Noida, UP; founder Shiv Nadar | Sovereign AI = AI compute and data kept within a country's own borders | Odisha capital: Bhubaneswar
📅 25 Jul 2026InternationalRead complete →

India Commissions Its First Two Geothermal Wells at Puga Valley, Ladakh

VK Saxena, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, commissioned India's first and deepest two geothermal wells (1,000 m each) at Puga Valley, Ladakh, executed by the ONGC Energy Centre. The wells are critical to a planned 1 MW pilot geothermal power plant at Puga (altitude over 14,000 feet) — India's first demonstration-scale geothermal power project. At 400 m depth, the wells recorded a maximum temperature of 135°C.

GK BytePuga Valley is a well-known geothermal field in Ladakh | ONGC founded: 1956, HQ New Delhi | Geothermal energy is renewable, drawn from the Earth's internal heat | India's first geothermal project site: Puga (Ladakh)
📅 22 Jul 2026InternationalRead complete →

NIELIT to Set Up Two Semiconductor Skilling Centres of Excellence in Ahmedabad and Guwahati

NIELIT (National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology) will establish two Centres of Excellence in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) and Guwahati (Assam) to train talent in OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly & Test) and ATMP (Assembly, Testing, Marking & Packaging). It supports India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0, approved with an outlay of Rs 1.28 lakh crore. NIELIT has partnered with Tata Electronics, Infineon and SCL Mohali, and will offer BTech, MTech and diploma programmes in semiconductors.

GK ByteNIELIT: est. 1994 (as DOEACC), renamed 2011, HQ New Delhi, under MeitY | Under IndiaAI Mission NIELIT runs 28 AI Labs and 42 AI programmes | ISM 2.0 outlay: Rs 1.28 lakh crore
📅 22 Jul 2026InternationalRead complete →