Indian Antarctic stations
2021 NOV 16
Preliminary >
Science and Technology > National initiatives and institutions > Research & Advanced studies
Why in news?
- India has successfully launched the 41st scientific expedition to Antarctica with the arrival of the first batch of its contingent at Maitri - Indian Antarctic station.
About Indian Antarctic programme:
- The Indian Antarctic programme, which began in 1981, has completed 40 scientific expeditions and built three permanent research base stations in Antarctica —Dakshin Gangotri (1983), Maitri (1988) and Bharati (2012).
- Currently, Maitri and Bharati are fully operational.
- The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa — an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences —manages the entire Indian Antarctic programme.
About 41st expedition:
- The 41st expedition has two major programmes:
- Geological exploration of the Amery ice shelf at the Bharati station and
- Reconnaissance surveys and preparatory work for the drilling of 500 metres of ice core near Maitri
PRACTICE QUESTION:
Consider the following statements:
1. National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) maintains India’s permanent stations in Antarctica
2. India is one of the nine countries to have more than one research base in the Antarctic Circle.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer