OCEAN SCIENCES
- A new data service was launched for dissemination of products on global ocean analysis in near real time using Near Real Time (NRIG) from April 2013 onwards.
- The NRIG service is based on the improved version of the Global Ocean Data Assimilation System (GODAS).
- In GODAS, in-situ temperature and salinity profiles obtained from GTS are assimilated in the ocean general circulation model (Modular Ocean Model) to generate the analysed fields of temperature, salinity and circulation on a daily basis. At present, the analysis results are available with a delay of 2 days.
- Ocean State Forecast is now being provided in Malayalam in Kerala as well using various modes such as SMS, Village Resource Centres (VRCs).
- A state-of-the-art tsunami warning system was set up in October 2007.
- As a pilot project, a high resolution coastal model, the Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS) was setup for the eastern Arabian Sea.
- Coral reef maps for all regions have been prepared on I:25000 scale.
- Seabass seeds obtained from Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai, has been reared to an average size of 342 g bodyweight in 290 days in open sea cages at the North Bay, Port Blair.
- The seabed images and sensor data were recorded and transmitted in real time using the web cast facility installed on board Oceanographic Research Vessel (ORV) Sagar Nidhi.
- The first Autonomous Underwater Profiling Drifter (AUPD) was deployed off Kochi in the Arabian Sea and 3 deep profiles up to 1600 in were obtained.
- India filed the application for allotment of a site for exploration of Polymetallic Sulphides in the Indian Ocean during the meeting of the International Seabed Authority, Kingston, Jamaica, held in 2013.
- Recently, the commencement of full-fledged operations at the third Antarctic Station “Bharati” at the Larsemann Hills was completed.
- Equipments related to multi-parametric geophysical investigation have been installed in
- The Earth Science Olympiad was held in September 2013 in Mysore.
BIOTECHNOLOGY
- Government set up a multi agency board namely National Biotechnology Board (NBTB) way back in 1982 with participation of DST, UGC, ICMR and CSIR to promote activities in biotechnology.
- National Biotechnology Board was upgraded to a fully fledged Department of Biotechnology in February, 1986.
- The National Bio-resource Development Board (NBDB) was set up in 1999 with a mission to evolve abroad policy for R&D for sustainable utilization of bio resources.
- A repository of honey bee has been established in UAS, Dharwad.
- A national repository centre on fish cell line has been established at National Bureau of Fish Genome Research (NBFGR), Lucknow.
- Centre for Bioscience and Bioengineering at IISc, Bengaluru
- Centre for Bio-Design at Translational Health Science & Technology (THSTI),
- The Human Genetics and Genome Analysis programme of DBT was initiated in 1990-91 with an aim to identify, map and characterize genes associated with genetic disorders prevalent in India.
- Since 2008-09, Government is implementing Vaccine Grand Challenge Programme (VGCP), a new model of governance of vaccine research and development and Indo-US Vaccine Action Programme (VAP) with major objective to accelerate development of candidate vaccines for which earlier leads are available.
- DBT is establishing a Cancer Immunology Centre in Kashmir at Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar with two units aiming at patient services and research.
- The Department is promoting stem cell research and regenerative medicine in the country since 2001.
- A three tier mechanism comprising:
- Institutional Bio safety Committees (IBSCS),
- the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) and
- Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) in the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MOEF),
has been established for evaluation, approval and monitoring of safety aspects associated with handling of recombinant DNA (rDNA) products in the pharmaceuticals and agricultural sectors leading to their commercial/ environmental release.
- The main objectives of Biotechnology Patent Facilitating Cell (BPFC) are creation of awareness and understanding relating to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) among students, scientists, faculty of colleges, universities and research institutes.
- The Biotechnology Information System Network (BTISNET) of the Department has 168 centres in different parts of the country. The network houses Supercomputer Facility for Bioinformatics and Interactive Graphics Facility.
- The Department of Biotechnology and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan have established a new joint research laboratory named DBT-AIST International laboratory for Advanced Biomedicine.
