POLAR RESEARCH VEHICLE (PRV)
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A Polar Research Vessel (PRV) is a specialized ship designed for conducting scientific studies in the polar areas near the Arctic and Antarctic. It also supports oceanographic research, equipped with cutting-edge instruments that allow scientists to investigate deep-sea environments and marine biodiversity.
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India currently runs three research stations in the polar zones — Bharati and Maitri in Antarctica, and Himadri in the Arctic. The country has long aimed to acquire its own PRV to bolster its independent research capabilities.
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The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), functioning under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, is the main agency overseeing India's scientific missions to the Arctic, Antarctic, and the Himalayan regions.
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The polar areas offer untouched natural settings that are ideal for examining various scientific fields such as atmospheric, oceanic, biological, geological, and glaciological sciences. Growing concerns over climate change have recently increased the focus on Arctic studies.
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The Arctic’s sea ice has been steadily diminishing over the past few decades, with a 12.6% decrease in ice coverage per decade over the last 40 years, according to a 2023 MIT Climate Portal report. Research missions have explored topics including winter lightning activity in the Arctic, how precipitation patterns affect climate, radio frequency conditions, and the impact of aerosols on climate change. The initiative to construct India's first polar research vessel marks a major milestone in this context
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Oslo, witnessed by Sarbananda Sonowal, India’s Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. He described it as a significant step toward promoting scientific research, enhancing India’s strengths in polar and marine studies, and supporting international initiatives to tackle critical issues such as climate change
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Arctic Council
The region located north of latitude 66° 34’ N, known as the Arctic Circle, spans across parts of eight nations — the United States, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden — all of which are members of the Arctic Council. This area also includes the Arctic Ocean. Scientific activities in the Arctic are regulated by various international agreements, such as the 1920 Svalbard Treaty and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in addition to the national laws of the Arctic states
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India became a signatory to the Svalbard Treaty in Paris in 1920. As per the Arctic Portal website, this treaty grants Norway absolute sovereignty over the Svalbard archipelago. Svalbard is officially a territory of Norway, which holds the authority to implement and uphold laws applicable to the region.
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India’s involvement in Arctic research began in 2007 when a team of five Indian scientists visited the International Arctic Research Facilities at Ny-Ålesund. The visit aimed to start studies in areas like Arctic microbiology, atmospheric science, and geology. India established its own research base, Himadri, in July 2008.
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In Antarctica, India established its first research base, Dakshin Gangotri, in 1983, two years after its inaugural expedition to the continent. Although Dakshin Gangotri is now buried under ice, the other two stations, Maitri and Bharati, remain active. These operations fall under the governance of the Antarctic Treaty.
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The Antarctic Treaty was signed on December 1, 1959, by 12 nations — including countries like the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and Australia — with the aim of promoting peaceful activities and collaborative scientific research in Antarctica.
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As of now, the treaty has 56 member countries. Among them, 29 nations — including the 12 founding members — hold the status of ‘Consultative Parties,’ meaning they have a role in shaping policy decisions. India, which became a member in 1983, is also recognized as a Consultative Party.
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India is taking significant steps to revitalize its shipbuilding industry. The Union Budget for 2025 introduced several key initiatives, including the creation of maritime mega clusters, a ₹25,000-crore Maritime Development Fund (MDF), customs duty waivers, and the designation of infrastructure status for large vessels, all aimed at strengthening the sector.
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The ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund is designed to offer broad-based support and encourage competitive growth. The government will provide 49% of the funding, while the remaining portion will come from contributions by ports and private players.
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India’s growing investment in shipbuilding hubs comes as outward payments for transport services continue to rise due to increasing exports. In 2022 alone, over $109 billion was paid by Indian traders for transportation services.
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The MDF aims to support ship purchases and expand the share of Indian-flagged vessels in global shipping to 20% by the year 2047. Additionally, the fund is projected to drive up to ₹1.5 lakh crore in investments in the shipping industry by 2030.
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The budget also continued support for the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy (SBFAP) 2.0, allocating ₹18,090 crore. This policy provides direct financial aid to Indian shipyards to improve their global competitiveness
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For Prelims: National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), polar research vehicle (PRV)
For Mains: GS III - Research centres at poles
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Previous Year Questions
1.Consider the following countries: (UPSC CSE 2014) 1. Denmark 2. Japan 3. Russian Federation 4. United Kingdom 5. United States of America Which of the above are the members of the ‘Arctic Council’? (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 4 and 5 only (d) 1, 3 and 5 only Answer (d) |
