INCOIS Director T M Balakrishnan Nair elected chair of IOCINDIO
INCOIS Director Dr T M Balakrishnan Nair has been elected chair of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission’s Sub-Commission for the Central Indian Ocean. The appointment is expected to strengthen regional cooperation, marine research and ocean information services.
Updated On - 15 October 2026, 06:31 PM
Hyderabad: Director of the Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Dr. T.M. Balakrishnan Nair, has been elected as the Chair of the UNESCO-Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission’s Sub-Commission for the Central Indian Ocean (IOCINDIO).
The newly elected leadership group also includes Dr. Turki Al-Saeed of Kuwait and Dr. Rezah M. Badal of Mauritius as Vice-Chairs, pending formal confirmation of their official appointments.
A veteran researcher and one of the founding members of INCOIS, Dr. Nair has over 25 years of extensive expertise in operational oceanography, marine science, and real-time ocean observation systems to his new international mandate.
Dr Nair, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has spearheaded critical advancements in ocean state forecasting and marine meteorological services, earning widespread recognition including the National Geoscience Award.
The international leadership milestone presents a strategic platform to deepen multilateral cooperation, accelerate marine scientific research and observations, and upgrade critical ocean information and services across the Central Indian Ocean region, a press release said.