Why is India building a new research base in Antarctica?

The South Asian country has recently announced its intention to set up a new Antarctic base. The new research station would come up near the existing Indian Antarctic base, Maitri, in East Antarctica.

A government release stated that the country has already identified the site for the new research station and a preliminary topographical survey had already been commissioned.

As per the timeline shared, the construction of the new Indian research base in Antarctica is expected to be completed by January 2029.

Why a new Indian research base in Antarctica?

The government said the existing Maitri research station in Antarctica is very old and it has become imperative for the country to start work on a new research base.

Maitri was envisaged to serve the Indian needs for 10 years but it has far exceeded expectations. However, to aid Indian research efforts in Antarctica and overcome the limitations of the existing research bases, a new research base has been proposed.

"The proposed project envisages adherence to environmental protocol for Antarctica and improving the quality of Indian scientific research in Antarctica," Union Minister of Earth Sciences, Kiren Rijiju had told the Rajya Sabha in December.

Indian Antarctic Programme

India's research activities in Antarctica commenced in 1981 with the launch of the first indigenous mission.

While the first Indian research base, Dakshin Gangotri, was set up in 1983, research station Maitri was made operational in 1989.

India currently operates two bases in Antarctica - Maitri and Bharati, which was commissioned in 2012. Bharati was constructed using 134 shipping containers.

Dakshin Gangotri research base was decommissioned in February 1990, after being abandoned in 1988–1989 following its submergence in ice. It was later converted into a supply base.

The Indian Antarctic Programme is managed by the Goa-based National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) which comes under the purview of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The Indian programme involves expeditions to Antarctica to conduct studies on marine, biological, geological and atmospheric sciences.