India is significantly strengthening its presence in the polar region with the final approval for Maitri-II, a cutting-edge, environmentally sustainable research station in East Antarctica. The new facility is set to be fully operational by January 2029, replacing the country’s three-decade-old Maitri base.
The project, spearheaded by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has been sanctioned with a budget of approximately ₹2,000 crore. Maitri-II will become India’s fourth facility on the continent, following Dakshin Gangotri (decommissioned), the original Maitri, and the operational Bharati station.
Maitri-II is planned as a sustainable “green research base” designed to enhance the quality and scope of India’s scientific exploration, particularly in the fields of climate change, glaciology, and atmospheric science.
| Feature | Detail | Significance |
| Sustainability | Integration of renewable energy sources like solar panels for the Antarctic summer and wind turbines. | Adheres to strict environmental protocols of the Antarctic Treaty System. |
| Capacity | Designed to accommodate up to 90 scientists (compared to 25-40 at the old Maitri). | Facilitates larger, more diverse research teams for year-round operation. |
| Technology | Equipped with advanced, automated instruments for continuous data collection and remote transmission to mainland India. | Allows the station to collect critical data even when unmanned during off-season periods. |
| Function | Will replace the original Maitri station, which was established in the Schirmacher Oasis in 1989 and had surpassed its 10-year design life. | Modernizes infrastructure, rectifies issues like waste management, and reinforces India’s long-term commitment to polar science. |
The establishment of Maitri-II underscores India’s commitment to the Antarctic Treaty and its role in global climate monitoring, providing a robust platform for researchers to study the continent, which holds about 75% of the world’s freshwater.
