The National Centre for Earth Science Studies is an autonomous research centre to promote scientific and technological research and development studies in the earth sciences.
NCESS pursues problems related to land,
sea and atmosphere.
It was instituted by the government of Kerala in 1978, at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
CESS was the earliest institute in the country to embrace the concept of Earth System Science.
CESS contributions over the years have enhanced knowledge of the geological evolution of south India,
the complexity of coastal processes and natural hazards,
as well as in proposing mitigatory measures to deal with natural hazards.
CESS carries out studies in river basin evaluation,
ground water management, coastal erosion,
and other special problems.
CESS does research in earth system,
micro-level watershed planning,
natural hazards management, chemical analysis, CRZ mapping,
and studies of air, water, land, noise pollution, etc.
CESS also does environmental impact assessment,
coastal and estuarine management, terrain analysis,
natural resources management, laser applications,
river sand mining,
and microlevel planning.
CESS conducts research courses leading to doctoral degree.
Recognizing the growth potential of CESS,
resource constraints of the State Government and the role CESS can play in national development,
the government of Kerala proposed the taking over of the institute by the Ministry of Earth Sciences,
Government of India.
An expert committee made an assessment of the scientific programs pursued by the institute and deliberated on a long term vision for the institute as a national centre.
The committee recommended the taking over of CESS by the MoES and according it the status of an autonomous institute under the Earth System Science Organization of MoES.
The proposed thrust areas of research will be crustal evolution and geodynamics,
sedimentology and depositional processes,
coastal dynamics and cloud microphysics.
The total estimated budget requirements of CESS will be Rs.128.67 crore for the balance period of the 12th FYP. 
