PaleoIndia Portal Context: The Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change recently launched the PaleoIndia Portal. About the PaleoIndia Portal PaleoIndia Portal is a digital platform developed jointly by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai, using dynamic geological maps provided by the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The portal records fossil fauna found across all 28 States and 8 Union Territories of India. It currently contains details of over 5,000 fossil specimens, including: Mammals, Reptiles, Birds,Fishes, Amphibians, Molluscs, Arthropods, Foraminifera, Echinoderms, Ichnofossils (trace fossils) It has a real-time data upload feature, allowing researchers, field scientists, and citizen scientists to add fossil records and help protect India's paleontological heritage. National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) Established: 2011 Set up by: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) Type: Autonomous institution Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu Main Objectives To become a leading knowledge centre for coastal environment, resources, and related research. To promote integrated and sustainable management of India's coastal and marine areas. To improve the livelihood and well-being of coastal and island communities. To provide scientific and policy advice to the Central and State Governments on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). Major Areas of Work Conducts coastal vulnerability assessments. Carries out coastal environmental impact studies. Identifies and maps Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs). Prepares Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Plans. Six Research Divisions of NCSCM Geospatial Sciences, Remote Sensing & Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Integrated Social Sciences & Economics Coastal Environmental Impact Assessment Conservation of Coastal & Marine Resources Knowledge, Governance & Policy Futuristic Research and Integrated Island Management Unit. National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) Context: Recently, the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) achieved a major success in conserving the genetic resources of India's wild rice (Oryza rufipogon) in…
