INCOIS

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, established in 1999 and headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana.

It operates as a unit of the Earth System Science Organization (ESSO) and is mandated to provide ocean information and advisory services to society, industry, government, and the scientific community through sustained ocean observations and systematic research.

Background and Establishment

• Origin: INCOIS evolved from the Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) Mission initiated in the 1990s by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (then Department of Ocean Development). Initially managed by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) in Hyderabad, the project was separated in 1998 to form INCOIS as an independent entity under the leadership of Dr. A. Narendra Nath, its founding director.
• Objective: To provide accurate and timely ocean data, forecasts, and advisories to support coastal communities, industries, and disaster management, while advancing oceanographic research.