Dakshin Gangotri: India’s First Antarctic Research Station

18 Dec 2025

Dakshin Gangotri: India’s First Antarctic Research Station

Dakshin Gangotri, India’s first permanent base on Antarctica has shaped the future of the country’s Antarctic programme.

About Dakshin Gangotri

  • Dakshin Gangotri was India’s first scientific research station in Antarctica, established in 1983.
  • It was named after the Gangotri glacier, symbolising India’s scientific outreach to the southern hemisphere.
  • Location: Situated in East Antarctica, on the ice shelf in Central Dronning Maud Land.
    • It was built on a floating ice mass, making it vulnerable to ice movement.
  • Purpose and Research: Supported studies in glaciology, meteorology, geology, oceanography, and atmospheric sciences.
    • It also served as India’s entry point into Antarctic scientific exploration.
  • Administrative Control: Operated under the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Ministry of Earth Sciences.
  • Operational Status: Functioned actively during the 1980s, later became submerged under ice.
    • Now used only as a supply base and transit camp, not for permanent research.

Strategic & Scientific Significance of Dakshin Gangotri

  • Geopolitical: Marked India’s permanent presence in Antarctica.
  • Scientific Legacy: Paved way for future stations (Maitri & Bharati), more than 40 expeditions, and the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR).
  • Meteorological Importance: Antarctica controls Indian Ocean weather, which in turn governs monsoon & climate of Indian subcontinent.
  • Geological Link: India and Antarctica were part of the ancient Gondwanaland supercontinent.

India’s other Antarctica Research Stations

  1. Maitri (Operational since 1988): Located in the Schirmacher Oasis, Central Dronning Maud Land.
    • Mitri was the 2nd permanent Indian base on Antarctica. 
  2. Bharati (Operational since March 2012): Located in the Larsemann Hills.
  3. Maitri II:  Maitri-II is India’s next-generation research station planned for East Antarctica.
    • Status: It is estimated to become operational by 2032.

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The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research

  • The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) is India’s central institution for coordinating and conducting research in the polar regions and oceans.
  • Established in 1998 as the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) and renamed in 2016.
  • It is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India.
  • Primary Role: To plan, promote, coordinate, and execute India’s entire scientific research program in the Antarctic, Arctic, Southern Ocean, and the Himalayas.
  • Headquarters: Vasco da Gama, Goa

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UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

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