Antarctica Day

• 04 Dec 2025

Why in News? 

India celebrated Antarctica Day on 1st December 2025 while also marking 25 years of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, reaffirming its role as the nation’s lead institution for polar and ocean exploration.

Key Points 

Antarctica Day 

• Treaty Signing (1959): The Antarctic Treaty was signed on 1st December 1959 by 12 nations, designating nearly 10% of Earth to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes for the benefit of all humanity. 
• Historic Firsts: The treaty became the first nuclear-arms control agreement and the first institution created to govern human activity in an international space beyond national jurisdictions. 
• Antarctic Treaty Summit (2009): The 50th anniversary summit in 2009 celebrated five decades of peaceful international cooperation under the Antarctic Treaty. 
• Creation of Antarctica Day (2010): Inspired by the 50-year celebrations, the Foundation for the Good Governance of International Spaces (Our Spaces) established Antarctica Day in 2010. 
• Purpose: Antarctica Day seeks to build global awareness about the treaty, celebrating it as a milestone of peace and cooperation in human civilisation. 
• India’s Role: India has been a Consultative Party since 1983, giving it voting rights and the ability to operate research stations and contribute to Antarctica’s scientific and environmental governance. 

National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)  

• Establishment: It was established in 1998 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), NCPOR is India’s nodal agency for coordinating the Indian Antarctic Programme and maintaining the Maitri (1989) and Bharati (2011) research stations.  
• Role: Located in Goa, it leads multidisciplinary polar and Southern Ocean research and has recognised research facilities for doctoral studies. It also plays a key role in India’s Deep Ocean Mission, linking polar science with strategic national priorities. 
• Research Station: NCPOR has established India’s permanent research stations: Dakshin Gangotri, Maitri, Bharati (Antarctica) and Himadri (Arctic), along with the Himalayan research station Himansh. 
  • The Ministry of Finance has approved Maitri-II, a new East Antarctica research station to be led by NCPOR.