**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, and the Government of Puducherry have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on February 12, 2026, to enhance marine research, infrastructure, and the blue economy. The MoU outlines collaborative efforts across six strategic areas to promote sustainable development and climate adaptation within the Union Territory of Puducherry. The MoU is valid for an initial period of five years, with annual progress reviews.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Purpose:** To advance marine research, infrastructure development, and blue economy initiatives in Puducherry.
* **Parties Involved:** The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, and the Government of Puducherry.
* **Validity:** Five years, with annual progress reviews.
* **Implementation:** Parties will designate Nodal Officers and establish Joint Working Groups.
* **Critical Fronts of Collaboration:**
* **Sustainable Marine Fisheries:** Enhance livelihoods through deep-sea fishing promotion, seaweed cultivation, and identifying migratory routes.
* **Offshore Wind Energy:** Conduct feasibility studies and provide technical support for renewable energy diversification.
* **Desalination Technologies:** Deploy seawater desalination plants with MoES support for freshwater scarcity solutions.
* **Ocean Climate Advisory & Real-Time Monitoring:** Establish observation infrastructure for reliable forecasting and climate-resilient planning.
* **Permanent Coastal Management:** Implement science-driven shoreline monitoring and erosion control measures.
* **Marine Spatial Planning (MSP):** Upgrade MSP framework integrating offshore wind, resource mapping, and marine sectors.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government of Puducherry**
* **Impact:** Benefits from MoES technical expertise to address coastal erosion, expand ocean services, and develop a sustainable blue economy. Gains infrastructure and resources for climate-resilient planning and renewable energy development.
* **Action Required:** Designate Nodal Officers and participate in Joint Working Groups to oversee project implementation.
**Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)**
* **Impact:** Leverages its technical expertise to support Puducherry's strategic maritime location and contribute to the development of a sustainable blue economy.
* **Action Required:** Designate Nodal Officers and participate in Joint Working Groups to oversee project implementation.
**Coastal Communities of Puducherry**
* **Impact:** Enhanced livelihoods through sustainable marine fisheries, improved coastal protection measures, and access to advanced desalination technologies.
* **Action Required:** Benefit from the initiatives and potentially participate in related programs or activities.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES): The primary Indian ministry involved in the MoU for advancing marine research, infrastructure development, and blue economy initiatives.
Puducherry: The Union Territory partnering with MoES to enhance its marine resources and coastal resilience.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): The agreement between the Ministry of Earth Sciences and the Government of Puducherry to advance marine research, infrastructure development, and blue economy initiatives.
Ministry of Earth Sciences
Ministry of Earth Sciences and Government of
Puducherry Sign Landmark MoU to Bolster Blue
Economy and Coastal Resilience
Posted On: 12 FEB 2026 5:44PM by PIB Delhi
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.
Critical Fronts of Collaboration
The MoU outlines a comprehensive framework for cooperation across six strategic areas designed to
promote sustainable development and climate adaptation:
1. Sustainable Marine Fisheries: Enhancing livelihoods through deep-sea fishing promotion,
seaweed cultivation, and the identification of migratory routes and fishing grounds.
2. Offshore Wind Energy: Executing feasibility studies and providing end-to-end technical
support to diversify Puducherry’s energy portfolio into renewables.
3. Desalination Technologies: Deploying seawater desalination plants with MoES technical
support to provide long-term solutions for freshwater scarcity in coastal areas.
4. Ocean Climate Advisory & Real-Time Monitoring: Establishing a dedicated observation
infrastructure in Puducherry for reliable forecasting and climate-resilient planning.
5. Permanent Coastal Management: Implementing science-driven shoreline monitoring and
erosion control measures to protect the coastline.
6. Marine Spatial Planning (MSP): Upgrading the current MSP pilot framework into a fully
functional model that integrates offshore wind, resource mapping, and marine sectors.
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."Implementation and Validity
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.
****
NKR/JP
(Release ID: 2227122) Visitor Counter : 164
Read this release in: Urdu , ही