The history of oceanographic research in India dates back to the later part of the 19th century, though the awareness in India of the importance of the ocean, can be traced back to the vedic times. The marine survey vessels of the Royal Indian Navy carried out surveys in the Indian waters during the British period.
Oceanography in India received considerable imporatnce after idependence. The establishment of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (1947), Indian Naval Physical Laboratory (1952) and the Oceanographic Research Wing of the Central Board of Geophysics (1958) and commencing of academic courses in oceanography at Andhra University and other coastal Universities in early fifties, etc. boosed the modern oceanographic research in India.
India's participation in the International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE) provided an opportunity to initiate an organized programme in oceanography. The Indian National Committee on Oceanic Research (INCOR), which was set up in 1960 under the Chairmanship of Dr. D. N. Wadia, F.R.S., functioned as the planning and coordinating body for the Indian Scientific Programme during the expedition. The major participating ship INS KISTNA completed 29 scientific cruises during 1962-65 covering 42000 nautical miles occupying 764 stations. During these cruises 160 scientists from various organisations in the country carried out observations and collected scientific material and data under different disciplines of oceanography.
The Indian National Committee on Oceanic Research (INOCR) felt that it would be in the national interest to consolidate the valuable experience gained and the scientific talent developed during the expedition at an institutional level having the status of a National Laboratory. The Governing Body of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) at its meeting held in May, 1965 accepted the draft plan of the National Institute of Oceanography which was prepared by the INCOR and thus the NIO was established on 1 January, 1966, as one of the laboratories under CSIR with its temporary headquarters in New Delhi.
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