State PCS - West Bengal (WBCS)

• 06 Jun 2025

India’s First Indigenous Polar Research Vessel

Why in News? 

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) Kolkata, a Government of India undertaking, has signed an MoU with Norway’s Kongsberg firm to develop India’s first indigenously built Polar Research Vessel (PRV).

Key Points 

• About the Polar Research Vessel (PRV): 
  • A PRV is a ship that supports research in the polar regions (around the North and South Poles) and ocean areas, tailored to the needs of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research. 
  • PRV will support India’s polar and ocean research missions, strengthening its existing three research stations: Bharati and Maitri in Antarctica, and Himadri in the Arctic. 
    • The vessel will be equipped with advanced scientific instruments to explore marine ecosystems and deep-sea biodiversity in polar and southern ocean realms. 
  • The project will reinforce India’s commitment to MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions). 
    • Under Sagarmala 2.0, India aims to become a global maritime leader by bridging infrastructure gaps and enhancing shipbuilding, repair, and recycling. 
  • The collaboration with Norway also aligns with India’s ‘Make in India’ and Atmanirbhar Bharat goals by boosting indigenous shipbuilding capability. 

National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) 

• It was established as an autonomous Research and Development Institution of the Ministry of Earth Sciences on the 25th May 1998. 
• Earlier known as the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR), NCPOR is India’s premier R&D institution responsible for the country’s research activities in the Polar and Southern Ocean realms. 
• It is the nodal agency for planning, promotion, coordination and execution of the entire gamut of polar and southern ocean scientific research in the country as well as for the associated logistics activities.

MAHASAGAR 

• About: 
  • It is India’s strategic initiative launched in 2025 to expand its security, trade, and development cooperation beyond the Indian Ocean Region to include the broader Global South—covering Africa, ASEAN, Latin America, and Pacific Island Nations. 
  • MAHASAGAR builds on the 2015 SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, which focuses on maritime security, sustainable development, and regional collaboration in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). 
• Key Focus Areas:  
  • Trade & Connectivity: Strengthens maritime and economic linkages across the Global South. 
  • Maritime Security: Enhances domain awareness and ensures free and secure sea lanes. 
  • Disaster Resilience & Humanitarian Aid: Promotes rapid response mechanisms and regional support systems. 
  • Economic & Cultural Engagement: Deepens partnerships with island and coastal nations through shared heritage, capacity building, and mutual growth.