DRI seizes around 55,000 e-cigarettes worth more than Rs. 13.5 crore (See 'Corp Brief') Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 - CIRP merits being ordered in respect of an applicant when there is no reason to deny admission once the statutory requirements for initiation of CIRP by the Corporate Applicant, are satisfied: NCLT (See 'Legal Desk') Scientists engage with farmers in Delhi's rural areas under 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan' (See 'Corp Brief') Yadav calls for translating Global Biodiversity Commitments into Effective Implementation (See 'Corp Brief') Competition Act, 2002 - Allegations of anti-competitive agreements or of abuse of dominant position are tenable where no cogent evidence is furnished to bolster the allegations raised: CCI (See 'Legal Desk') Energy Technology Meet inaugurated in Goa, Highlights India's Energy Security Priorities (See 'Corp Brief') Discussions must lead to practical actions that cities can adopt: MoS (See 'Corp Brief') CARA organises Regional Consultative Workshop to expand Adoption of Children with Special Needs (See 'Corp Brief') ICAR-MGIFRI promotes Soil Health, Balanced Fertilisation and Sustainable Orchard Management (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - If well-known pharmaceutical mark with established goodwill & continuous use is sought to be diluted by subsequent user adopting coined expression sharing dominant prefix, case calls for interim injunction: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Bhupender Yadav emphasizes importance of Science-based Biodiversity Governance (See 'Corp Brief') PM Vishwakarma Artisans showcase Traditional Crafts at BRICS Cultural Bazar (See 'Corp Brief') Industrial Settlements benefit Over 10,900 Bihar Gramin Bank Employees (See 'Corp Brief') Startup Credit Guarantees reach Rs 1,662 Crore (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Converting passing off action into infringement claim post-registration does not change basic structure of suit: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Nadda leads Integrity Pledge Ceremony at Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (See 'Corp Brief') RM calls for 'Aatmanirbharta 2.0', next leap in defence self-reliance, at SWAVLAMBAN 2026 (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Admission u/s 7 IBC requires summary finding of debt & default above statutory threshold, and not exact reconciliation or forensic reconciliation of accounts: SC (See 'Legal Desk') MoRTH to organise 'Transport Mela' under PARIVARTAN Scheme in Delhi-NCR (See 'Corp Brief') NCB launches 'Operation Trident', with 38 teams striking 38 locations (See 'Corp Brief') NIFTEM-K hosts India's First AI × Food Tech Hackathon, 'Hack the Fork' (See 'Corp Brief') Misc - Administrator could neither assume RBI's write-down power at point of non-viability nor exercise it after reconstruction scheme took effect: SC (See 'Legal Desk') GeM promotes 'The AABHAR Collection' to showcase India's Cultural Heritage (See 'Corp Brief') National Conclave 2026: Technical sessions outline reforms for future-ready cities (See 'Corp Brief') PM's appeal has given a new identity to Khadi: KVIC Chairman (See 'Corp Brief') SARFAESI - Secured creditor stepping into shoes of borrower/lessee cannot claim rights superior to those of original lessee: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Three-day event 'India Chem-2026' concludes in Mumbai (See 'Corp Brief') Agricultural Biological Resources generate ABS Benefits for Biodiversity (See 'Corp Brief') BHASHINI Division showcases Multilingual AI Solutions for Accessible Research at IIT Delhi (See 'Corp Brief') Capital Market - Sec 12A of Commercial Courts Act is mandatory and strict condition precedent for maintaining commercial suit where no urgent interim relief is contemplated: HC (See 'Legal Desk') Fisheries Investors & Exporters Conclave 2026 to boost Investment and Exports from Inland Fisheries (See 'Corp Brief') India's First Maritime NBFC SMFCL scales up with Rs 5,107 Crs disbursed (See 'Corp Brief') India advances Agrivoltaics Cooperation for Global South (See 'Corp Brief') RTI - Information regarding public orders & ongoing court proceedings is already accessible in public domain - falls outside disclosure obligations of public authority under statute: SEBI (See 'Legal Desk') An unsuccessful 'success fee' litigation (See CORP EINSICHT)

Cabinet approves continuation of O-SMART at cost of Rs 2177 Cr

Published: Nov 24, 2021

By TIOLCorplaws News Service

NEW DELHI, NOV 24, 2021: THE Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today gave its approval for continuation of the umbrella scheme "Ocean Services, Modelling, Application, Resources and Technology (O-SMART)" of Ministry of Earth Sciences, for implementation during the period from 2021-26 at an overall cost of Rs. 2177 crore.

The scheme encompasses seven sub-schemes namely Ocean Technology, Ocean Modelling and Advisory Services (OMAS), Ocean Observation Network (OON), Ocean Non-Living Resources, Marine Living Resources and Ecology (MLRE), Coastal Research and Operation and Maintenance of Research Vessels. These sub-schemes are being implemented by autonomous/attached institutes of the Ministry, viz. National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai; Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad; National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, Center for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi; and National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Chennai as well as involving other national institutes. A fleet of oceanographic and coastal research vessels of the Ministry provide required research support for scheme.

The research and technology development pertaining to oceans in India was initiated by Department of Ocean Development (DoD), which was set up in 1981 which later merged to Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and continuing since then. MoES has achieved significant position in the Oceanographic research through technology developments, forecast services, field installations, explorations, survey, technology demonstrations towards national benefits. The O-SMART scheme encompassing oceanographic research activities is being implemented with the objectives for providing forecast and services based on the continuous observation of our oceans, development of technologies and exploratory surveys for sustainable harnessing of our oceanic resources (both living and non-living) and promotion of front-ranking research in ocean sciences.

Several major milestones have been achieved through the activities of the scheme, the most significant is India's recognition as Pioneer Investor with International Seabed Authority (ISA) for conducting extensive research on deep sea mining of Poly Metallic Nodules (PMN) and hydrothermal sulphides in the allotted area of the India Ocean. The technology development for desalination using low temperature thermal desalination installation of such facility in Lakshadweep islands is also a significant achievement. Moreover, India's ocean related activities are now extended from the Arctic to Antarctic region covering large ocean space which have been monitored by through in-situ and satellite-based observation. India has taken leadership role in implementing Indian Ocean component of Global Ocean Observing System in Intergovernmental.

Oceanographic Commission through wide range of observations networks including both moored and drifters' types have been deployed and maintained in the Indian Ocean. These observation network yields ocean forecast services for potential fishing ground and natural costal hazards warning for storm surge associated with cyclone and Tsunami to stake holders at nations levels as well as neighbouring countries. A state-of-the-art early warning system for oceanic disasters viz. tsunami, storm surges, has been established at INCOIS, Hyderabad to provide services for India and countries of the Indian Ocean, which have been recognized by UNESCO. Extensive survey along the Indian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf of India are conducted for national benefits towards identifying ocean resources, Ocean related advisory services, navigation, etc. Assessment of living resources in the EEZ and deep ocean of India including mapping of the living resources has been undertaken for marine ecosystem with goal for Conservation and protection of Marine Biodiversity. The Ministry has been also monitoring the health of coastal waters of India including shoreline changes and marine ecosystems.

OSMART being a multidisciplinary continuing scheme, the ongoing extensive research and technology development activities would augment capacity building of the nation in the oceanographic field at the international level. The present decade has been declared as the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development by the United Nations (UN) and continuation of the scheme would strengthen our stand in the global oceanographic research and technology development. This continuation of the scheme would contribute significantly towards national policy on blue economy for effective and efficient use of the vast ocean resources in a Sustainable way. Efforts towards achieving United Nations sustainable Development Goal-14 to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources are being covered through the coastal research and marine biodiversity activities. Significant contribution to the national GDP is being made and to be continued through the ocean advisory services and technologies developed benefiting communities and several sectors working in the marine environment, particularly in the coastal states of India.

In the next five years (2021-26) this scheme would provide further comprehensive coverage through strengthening the ongoing activities towards delivering cutting edge technology applicable for marine domain, forecast and warning services to various coastal stake holders, understanding biodiversity towards conservation strategy for marine living organisms and understanding coastal processes.

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