India Greenlights Maitri II, Fourth Antarctic Research Station

Key Points:

• Approval: Union Finance Ministry has granted approval for Maitri II, India’s newest research station in eastern Antarctica.
• Timeline: Expected to be built and operational by January 2029.
• Significance:
  • Will be India’s fourth research base on the frozen continent.
  • Strengthens India’s presence and research capabilities in Antarctica.
• Nodal Agency:
  • National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, under Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
  • Responsible for operating missions to Antarctica and the Arctic.
• Background:
  • Plan for Maitri II first proposed in late 2023.
  • In-principle approval granted on October 4, 2025.
• Existing Indian Research Bases:
  • Dakshin Gangotri: India’s first base, operational for a few years.
  • Maitri: Operational since 1989.
  • Bharati: Operational since 2012.
• Purpose:
  • Support scientific research in Antarctica, gathering exclusive data on the continent’s climate, ecology, and geology.
• Strategic Impact:
  • Expands India’s polar research infrastructure, contributing to global scientific knowledge and Antarctic exploration.

(Source: IE)