About NCPOR
- Established: 25 May 1998
- Earlier known as: National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR)
- Renamed as NCPOR: 2018
- Status: Autonomous Research and Development Institution
- Parent Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)
- Headquarters: Goa
- Key Role: Nodal organisation for the planning, coordination and implementation of India’s polar and Southern Ocean scientific research and associated logistics.
Major Functions of NCPOR
1. Polar Expeditions and Research
NCPOR coordinates scientific and logistical activities related to India’s annual expeditions to:
- Antarctica
- Arctic
- Southern Ocean
It also facilitates multidisciplinary research by Indian scientific institutions in these regions.
2. Management of India’s Polar Research Stations
| Research Station | Location |
| Maitri | Antarctica – Schirmacher Oasis |
| Bharati | Antarctica – Larsemann Hills region |
| Himadri | Arctic – Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, Norway |
| Himansh | Himalayan research station |
- NCPOR’s current Citizen’s Charter also lists the management and upkeep of Himansh, in addition to Maitri, Bharati and Himadri.
- Dakshin Gangotri was India’s first Antarctic research station. It is no longer operational as a permanent station.
3. Ocean Research and Exploration
NCPOR also undertakes important research beyond the polar regions, including:
- Geoscientific surveys of India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
- Studies related to the extended continental shelf
- Deep-sea drilling in the Arabian Sea
- Exploration of gas hydrates
- Exploration of multi-metal sulphide mineralisation in the Indian Ocean ridge area
Thus, NCPOR is not confined only to polar research.
4. ORV Sagar Kanya
NCPOR manages the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ research vessel ORV Sagar Kanya, along with other research vessels chartered by the Ministry.
- ORV: Ocean Research Vessel
- Built under Indo-German collaboration
- Delivered to India in 1983
- Functions as a multidisciplinary ocean-observing and research platform.
Conclusion
NCPOR is a key institution supporting India’s scientific presence in the polar regions and the Southern Ocean, while also contributing to ocean exploration and marine geoscience research.
| This concept has been discussed in the following article BRICS Cooperation in Ocean and Polar Science |