Maitri II: India’s Upcoming Antarctic Research Station

The Finance Ministry recently approved the establishment of Maitri II, India’s newest Antarctic research base, to be constructed in eastern Antarctica with a financial outlay of Rs. 2,000 crore over seven years.

The Goa-based National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), functioning under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), will oversee the mission.

Key Details of Maitri II

Aspect	Details
Project Approval	Approved by the Finance Ministry with an outlay of Rs. 2,000 crore over seven years.
Location	The research base will be constructed in eastern Antarctica.
Nodal Institution	The mission will be overseen by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Research Base Status	Maitri II will be India’s fourth research base in Antarctica after Dakshin Gangotri, Maitri, and Bharati.
Completion Target	The station is expected to be completed by January 2029.
Green Facility	It will be designed as a green research facility, powered by solar and wind energy, with upgraded infrastructure and improved living conditions.

INDIA’S ANTARCTIC RESEARCH BASES

Research Base	Status / Details
Dakshin Gangotri	India’s first Antarctic research base, now decommissioned.
Maitri	Established in 1989; located in the Schirmacher Oasis of East Antarctica.
Bharati	India’s active Antarctic research station, commissioned in 2012.
Maitri II	Upcoming Antarctic research base expected to be completed by January 2029.

Future Role of Maitri I

Maitri I, located in the Schirmacher Oasis of East Antarctica, will continue to serve as India’s summer research camp once Maitri II becomes operational.

PT Facts

Maitri: Located in the Schirmacher Oasis in East Antarctica.
Bharati: India’s active Antarctic research station commissioned in 2012.
Antarctic Research: Helps study climate change, ice cores, atmospheric science, geology, and polar ecosystems.
Antarctic Treaty System: Governs activities in Antarctica and promotes peaceful scientific cooperation.

Source:

Join Our Telegram

AI Impact Summit 2026 UPSC GS-3 S&T PT-MAINS

India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) UPSC GS-2 INDO PACIFIC – IR/PSIR

20 Nov, 25
SHARE

India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) UPSC GS-2 INDO PACIFIC – IR/PSIR IPOI is India’s open, voluntary and non-treaty-based maritime initiative for building a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific through practical cooperation. Why in News? India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Ini

AI Impact Summit 2026 UPSC GS-3 S&T PT-MAINS

19 May, 26
SHARE

AI Impact Summit 2026 UPSC GS-3 S&T PT-MAINS The India-AI Impact Summit 2026 positioned India as a Global South leader by shifting global AI debate from only AI safety and regulation to AI for development, inclusion and real-world impact. Why in News? India hosted the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 at B

Hong Kong Convention for Safe Ship Recycling UPSC GS-3 ENVIRONMENT PT-MAINS

27 Jun, 25
SHARE

Hong Kong Convention for Safe Ship Recycling UPSC GS-3 ENVIRONMENT PT-MAINS The Hong Kong International Convention, 2009 is an IMO treaty that ensures ships are recycled safely without unnecessary risk to human health, worker safety and the environment. Why in News? The Hong Kong Convention entered into force on 26 June 2

LeadIT 2.0: Leadership Group for Industry Transition COP28 UPSC GS-2 IR GS-3 S&T

14 Nov, 23
SHARE

LeadIT 2.0: Leadership Group for Industry Transition UPSC GS-2 IR GS-3 S&T LeadIT 2.0 is the second phase of the India-Sweden-led global initiative to support low-carbon transition in hard-to-abate industrial sectors. Why in News? The second phase of LeadIT was announced at the LeadIT Summit 2023, ho

India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement UPSC GS-2 IR/PSIR

03 Sep, 25
SHARE

India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement UPSC GS-2 IR/PSIR The India-EFTA TEPA is a comprehensive trade pact between India and four non-EU European countries — Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland — aimed at boosting trade, investment, jobs, services, technology and supply-chain resilience. Wh