The O-SMART scheme also known as an Umbrella Program, which stands for Ocean Services, Modeling, Applications, Resources, and Technology and was approved by the Cabinet Committee on August 29, 2018. It has a budget of approximately 1,623 Crores and will run from 2017 to 2020.

The goal of O-SMART is to promote ocean research and early weather detection. It includes 16 sub-projects that focus on developing ocean resources, technology, services, observations, and science.

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Why Is It In The News?

The Indian government has allocated 2,177 crore rupees (approximately USD 290 million) for its O-SMART scheme over the next 5 years, from 2021-2022 to 2025-2026.

What Are The Goals Of The O-SMART Program?

The O-SMART program has three main goals:

• Provide weather and ocean forecasts based on ongoing research about the oceans.

• Encourage cutting-edge research about ocean science.

• Develop technologies and do exploratory surveys to use ocean resources sustainably.

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Sub-Schemes Under O-SMART Scheme

The O-SMART govt scheme has seven main parts.

• Ocean Technology

• Ocean Modeling and Advisory Services

• Ocean Observation Network

• Ocean Non-Living Resources

• Marine Living Resources and Ecology

• Coastal Research

• Operation and Maintenance of Research Vessels

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The Major Parts Of The O-SMART Scheme Include

Below mentioned 17 points include the major parts of the O-SMART Scheme:-

(Note:- To know more about or for the detailed elaboration of these major parts click on link )

• Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology—Marine Living Resources Programme.

• National Centre for Coastal Research.

• Ocean observation and network.

• Ocean—modelling data assimilation and process-specific observations.

• Ocean science and technology for islands.

• Harnessing ocean energy for generating freshwater.

• Manned and unmanned underwater vehicles.

• Marine sensors, ocean electronics and acoustics.

• Operating and maintaining research vessels.

• Seafront Research Facility.

• Studies on Gas hydrates.

• Polymetallic nodules.

• Polymetallic Sulfides.

• Geoscientific studies of exclusive economic zones.

• Extension of the continental shelf.

• Deep Ocean Mission (DOM).

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Which Institutes Are Implementing The O-SMART Scheme?

The Ministry of Earth Sciences has five autonomous institutes that implement the O-SMART scheme

1. Environmental Research, Education and Development Institute (EREDI) in Chennai.

2. Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) in Hyderabad.

3. The National Center for Coastal Research (NCCR) is based in Chennai.

4. They fund the Center for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE) in Kochi.

5. National Centre of Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) based in Goa.

Importance Of The O-SMART Scheme

The O-SMART government scheme matters for the fact that it aids in enhancing the state of ocean research and technology through various institutes in India.

Fast-forwards to more research, development and training in ocean science. It supports the position of India in ocean issues internationally. Since the UN declared this period the Decade of Ocean Science, the scheme will support India’s activities in ocean research globally.

Achievements Of The O-SMART Scheme For India Regarding The Ocean Are As Follows

• India was given the status of a Pioneer Investor with the International Seabed Authority to explore for nickel, cobalt, copper, and other minerals in the deep sea of the Indian Ocean.

• Technology was constructed for desalination using low-temperature heating and related plants were built on the Lakshadweep islands.

• India increased its ocean activities from the Arctic to the Antarctic by leading efforts to implement the Indian Ocean component of the global ocean observing system as part of the UNESCO ocean science group.

• Alerts are provided on ocean disasters such as storms and tsunamis in India. Warnings are issued to over 25 countries in the Indian Ocean when tsunamis are detected.

Conclusion

O-SMART contributes to India’s flagship ocean research, like gaining Pioneer Investor status and creating desalination technology. As the country will persist in coordinating, facilitating and leading oceanic initiatives ranging from the Arctic to the Antarctic the govt scheme shall have the potency to fete sustainable development and international cooperation.

For detailed Info and guidelines, do visit the official website of government by Clicking Here