For its outstanding efforts in disaster management, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has been chosen for the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2025 in the Institutional Category.
Under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian government established the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar to honour and recognize the selfless service and priceless contribution made by Indian individuals and organizations in the field of disaster management.
Every year on January 23, the anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth, the prize is presented. In the event of an institution, the award carries a monetary prize of Rs 51 lakhs together with a certificate, while for a person; it carries Rs 5 lakhs along with a certificate.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, claims that the nation has greatly enhanced its preparedness, mitigation, response, and disaster management procedures, which has led to a notable decrease in the number of fatalities during natural disasters.
Nominations for the 2025 award were accepted beginning on July 1, 2024. Institutions and individuals submitted about 297 nominations.
In Hyderabad, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) was founded in 1999. With a focus on early warnings for ocean-related disasters, it is essential to India’s disaster management plan.
It created the Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC), which serves India and 28 other Indian Ocean nations and issues tsunami warnings within 10 minutes. UNESCO has acknowledged it as a leading provider of tsunami services.
In order to protect coastal communities and maritime operations, it also provides high-wave, cyclone, and storm surge forecasts, aided by a network of seismic stations, tide gauges, and other ocean sensors.
The INCOIS provided advisories during the 2013 Phailin and 2014 Hudhud cyclones, resulting in prompt evacuations and decreased hazards for coastal communities.
To help the Indian Coast Guard, Navy, and Coastal Security Police find people or items lost at sea, the organization created the Search and Rescue Aided Tool (SARAT).
In order to improve reaction coordination during extreme events, it has also developed the SynOPS visualization platform, which incorporates real-time data.
The INCOIS was honoured with the 2021 Disaster Risk Reduction Excellence Award and the 2024 Geospatial World Excellence in Maritime Services Award.
-NSH Digidesk
