Established in 1999, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) is an autonomous body under India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences.Its activities include:

Multi-hazard warnings

• INCOIS operates a 24/7 centre that issues tsunami warnings for India and other countries in the Indian Ocean. It was designated a Regional Tsunami Service Provider by UNESCO.
• Storm Surge and High Wave Warnings.
• Swell Surge Forecast System: swell surge events are flash floods caused by swells originating from the Southern Ocean.
• Algal Bloom Information Service.

Forecast and advisory services

• Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) Advisories
• Ocean State Forecast
• Small Vessel Advisory and Forecast Services System (SVAS)
• Search and Rescue Aided Tool (SARAT)

Monitoring and research

• INCOIS deploys and maintains an array of ocean-observing systems, including buoys, tide gauges, and drifting floats, to collect data in the Indian Ocean.
• It has been designated as the National Oceanographic Data Centre and acts as a central repository for oceanographic data.
• INCOIS conducts research and uses advanced models to improve the accuracy of its forecasts for tsunamis, storm surges, and other ocean processes. 

INCOIS engages in extensive international cooperation, particularly with countries on the Indian Ocean rim:

• It provides tsunami warnings to 28 countries in the region as a Tsunami Service Provider.
• It participates in international programs such as the Indian Ocean Global Ocean Observing System (IOGOOS).
• It offers training and capacity-building programs in operational oceanography at its International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography (ITCOocean). 

Why in the news?

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), organised the Conclave on Marine Multi-Hazards Services for the Indian Coastline in Chennai.