Why in the news?

  • The Ministry of Finance has given in-principle approval for setting up Maitri II, India’s new research station in east Antarctica.

Maitri II Research Station in Antarctica

  • What is it?: Maitri II is India’s upcoming and fourth research station in Antarctica, scheduled to be completed by January 2029.  It strengthens India’s long-term scientific presence under the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS, 1959).
  • Purpose & Need: It is being built to replace the old Maitri station (1989), which has surpassed its original design life of 10 years and has issues like flawed waste management.
  • Nodal Agency: The project is led by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
  • Features:
    • Larger and Greener: Designed as a modern “green research base”, significantly larger than its predecessor to accommodate advanced research teams.
    • Renewable Energy Integration: Will use solar power during the Antarctic summer and wind turbines to harness powerful polar winds, reducing reliance on diesel.
    • Advanced Technology: Equipped with automated instruments capable of recording and relaying real-time data to mainland India even when unmanned.
    • Sustainable Infrastructure: Focuses on eco-friendly waste management, efficient insulation, and improved living facilities such as upgraded sanitation and modular accommodation units.
  • Significance:
    • Scientific Advancement: Supports multidisciplinary research in climate change, glaciology, atmospheric sciences, microbial life, and polar geology.
    • Environmental Importance: Antarctica contains ~75% of Earth’s freshwater, making it critical for studying ice-sheet dynamics and sea-level rise.
    • Resource Exploration: Facilitates long-term observation of marine biodiversity and potential mineral and hydrocarbon reserves, though exploitation remains restricted under ATS protocols.
    • Strategic & Diplomatic Role: Reinforces India’s active participation in polar governance and enhances its voice in global climate negotiations.
    • Technological Showcase: Demonstrates India’s capacity for sustainable engineering in extreme environments.