India is expanding its polar research capabilities with the upcoming Maitri II station, which will be the nation’s fourth research base in Antarctica, replacing the ageing Maitri I station.
📍 Key Details and Status
- Designation: India’s proposed fourth research station in Antarctica.
- Purpose: To replace the existing Maitri I station (established in 1989), which is now outdated and has surpassed its design life. Maitri I will be maintained as a Summer Camp.
- Location: Planned for East Antarctica, near the existing Maitri station in the Schirmacher Oasis.
- Nodal Agency: National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
- Projected Timeline (Revised): Expected to be operational by 2032. Earlier projections had targeted January 2029, but the government has revised the timeline.
- Estimated Cost: Approximately ₹2,000 crore over seven years.
- Pre-Investment Approval: MoES has approved ₹29.20 crore for pre-investment activities like architectural design and Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparation.
🧪 Features and Objectives
Maitri II is designed as a modern, state-of-the-art, and sustainable research hub to support year-round scientific activities.
| Feature | Description |
| Sustainability | Planned as a “green research base.” Will utilise solar power (in summer) and wind energy from strong Antarctic winds. |
| Technology | Equipped with automated instruments for continuous data collection and transmission to India, even when the station is unmanned in harsh winter months. |
| Infrastructure | It will be larger than the original Maitri. Features include: modern laboratories, advanced ice-core storage and processing systems, dedicated biological and microbial research suites, and expanded atmospheric observation facilities. |
| Logistics | A stronger and more dependable logistic backbone will ensure uninterrupted operations. Construction involves sending prefabricated modules from India to South Africa (Cape Town) and then transporting them to the site. |
| Research Focus | Significant enhancement in capacity for multidisciplinary research in: Biology, Earth Sciences, Glaciology, Atmospheric Sciences, Climate Studies, and long-term environmental monitoring. |
🗺️ India’s Antarctic Presence
| Station | Established | Status | Key Location/Notes |
| Dakshin Gangotri | 1983 | Decommissioned (1990) | First station, submerged in ice, now used as a supply base/transit camp. |
| Maitri (I) | 1989 | Operational | Second station, located in Schirmacher Oasis (East Antarctica). Will be maintained as a Summer Camp. |
| Bharati | 2012 | Operational | Third station, located about 3,000 km east of Maitri, near Thala Fjord/Quilty Bay. |
| Maitri II | Planned (by 2032) | Under Construction | Proposed replacement for Maitri I. |
🌐 Significance
- Scientific Leadership: Reinforces India’s role as a major contributor to global climate and polar research.
- Climate Change: Crucial for studying ice sheets to aid sea-level rise forecasts and analysing ice cores for palaeoclimate data.
- International Commitment: Strengthens India’s commitment under the Antarctic Treaty System (1959) and compliance with the Indian Antarctic Act, 2022.