The importance of Antarctica as a pedestal for front-ranking scientific research was recognized by Indian way back in 1981 itself, when the first Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica was launched. Since then, India has made great strides in initiating scientific projects of both national and global relevance as well as in catering to the entire gamut of complex logistics operations called for, in the Annual Expeditions to Antarctica. Experiments mounted by Indian scientists in such disciplines as atmospheric sciences & meteorology, earth sciences and glaciology, biology and environmental sciences have also contributed directly to global experiments mounted under the aegis of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). The Indian research station Maitri has also served as a platform for collaborative studies with some Antarctic Treaty nations i.e. Germany, Italy, France, Poland and the United States of America. It has also facilitated scientists from Malaysia, Columbia, Peru and Mauritius to work in Antarctica.
Some of the noteworthy accomplishments of Indian scientific community in Antarctica are:
National Centre for Antarctic & Ocean Research, Goa
As in the previous years, all the aspects related the planning, co-ordnation and implementation of the scientific and logistics aspects related to the Indian Scientific Expeditions to Antarctica shall be undertaken by NCAOR on behalf of the Ministry. The science component of the work programme would a multi-institutional national endeavor with the involvement of scientists from all major national institutions, laboratories and Universities with a sustained interest in the polar realm.
The scientific studies proposed and being carried out by Indian scientists in Antarctica will be contributing significantly to the global community’s ongoing efforts in understanding the climate change phenomena. In addition, the studies would be providing a wealth of data in such diverse but inter-related fields as earth sciences, biology, atmospheric sciences and climatology.
(Rs. In crores)
Name of the Scheme | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Polar Expedition - Antarctica | 153.00 | 155.00 | 140.00 | 142.00 | 143.00 | 733.00 |
Last Updated On 04/07/2015 - 13:58 |