India’s Polar Strategy: Antarctica and the Future of Climate Governance

Kavin Adithya C.B.

Introduction

Antarctica is now at the heart of global climate governance as it continues to contribute to sea-level rise, influence climate and house unique biodiversity. India’s Antarctic programme is a model of science-led, collaborative engagement that links climate monitoring with environmental stewardship a1nd international diplomacy in the sustainable management of one of the world’s most fragile ecosystems.

Background

Antarctica occupies a central position in the Earth’s climate system. Nearly 70 per cent of the world’s freshwater is stored in its ice sheets, which regulate global temperatures, ocean circulation, and global weather patterns. Accelerated ice-sheet melting caused by climate change has intensified concerns over sea-level rise, biodiversity loss, and climatic instability, making Antarctica a critical component of global environmental governance.

Recently, scientists have been alarmed by how rapidly the ice sheets on Antarctica are melting, raising sea levels, wiping out species, and making weather more chaotic. So, what used to be like a remote, frozen frontier is now a locus where environmental stewardship, scientific inquiry, and international diplomacy converge. For India, environmental changes in Antarctica have direct implications for monsoon variability, coastal resilience, water security, and long-term climate adaptation, making polar research a strategic national priority.

There has been no stagnation in India’s ties with Antarctica. India’s engagement with Antarctica commenced with its first scientific expedition in 1981. This marked the beginning of the country’s sustained involvement in polar research, and in 1983 India attained Consultative Party status under the Antarctic Treaty System, enabling it to participate actively in Antarctic governance and scientific cooperation (National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research [NCPOR], 2024; Antarctic Treaty Secretariat, 2024).

Since then, India has established three research stations  Dakshin Gangotri, Maitri, and Bharati. These posts enable scientists from India to monitor glaciers, the atmosphere, and the oceans, as well as rocks, wildlife, and even microbes from the poles. Dakshin Gangotri is now used mainly as a logistics base, but Maitri and Bharati are both year-round the two give year-round support to work in all seasons. 

The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research ( NCPOR), guidance agency under Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is the nodal agency for Antarctic affairs in India. They organize adventures, maintain science facilities, handle logistics, and develop international projects, involving universities and research institutes from throughout the country. A big breakthrough was achieved in 2022 when India enacted the Antarctica Act.

The Act provides legal cover for all Indian activities in Antarctica and is in consonance with international obligations under the Antarctic Treaty system and its Environmental Protocol. The Act also consolidates the law relating to offences committed by Indian citizens in Antarctica and also states that the central government may make rules for carrying out provisions of this Act. The Act strengthens environmental protection, establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for Indian activities, and reinforces India’s commitment to the peaceful and sustainable governance of Antarctica.

Functioning

India’s Antarctic program is a part of a holistic institutional regime with scientific research, environmental regulation and international cooperation modes of operation. The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) is entrusted with planning of annual expeditions, running of research stations, logistics coordination, supply chain management and execution of scientific programmes, etc. The program also integrates university, national lab and specialized research center partners to foster interdisciplinary studies in climate and polar sciences.

Research is conducted largely at the Maitri and Bharati research stations, where year-round observations are made by multidisciplinary teams in the fields glaciology, atmospheric processes, oceanography, marine ecosystems, biodiversity, geology and polar microbiology. Data derived from such long-term monitoring programs are used to study environmental change in Antarctica, to improve climate models, and to inform global assessments of climate and sea level. The study, which also underpins Indian climate adaptation strategies, provides scientific inputs for managing coasts, disaster management and environmental planning.

The day-to-day functions are guided by the Antarctica Act, 2022, which is aligned with the Antarctic Treaty System and the Madrid Protocol to govern the Indian expeditions, it includes provisions relating to such things as environmental protection, waste disposal and scientific procedures. The Act makes sure that the studies are carried out responsibly and with minimal ecological disruption and in full compliance with international environmental commitments.

The programme is also built on international cooperation. India is a party to the Antarctic Treaty, Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Tests in Space and it has observer status on the Arctic Council. Through these mechanisms India shares its scientific expertise, exchanges research data, develops joint projects and contributes to evidence based decision making. This institutional arrangement allows India to marry scientific excellence and environmental stewardship and thereby consolidates its position as a credible partner in Antarctic governance and global climate cooperation.

Performance 

 Between 2023-2026, the Indian Antarctic programme exhibited consistent advancement in the areas of scientific capability, institution building, and engagement with the international community. The NCPOR successfully organised annual Antarctic expeditions and facilitated seamless scientific activities in the Maitri and Bharati research stations. Such continuity made it possible to conduct long-term monitoring of climate change, glaciers dynamics, atmospheric, ocean circulation, marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and the cryosphere, and to develop and accumulate useful datasets, which further contribute to national climate planning and global scientific assessments.

In fact, the enactment of the Antarctica Act, 2022 consolidated the programme by entrenching a well-defined legal framework addressing environmental protection, expeditions management, and the ante-mortem scrutiny under the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) as well as through evaluation by the Madrid Protocol. 

During this time, India also enhanced its scientific interaction by becoming a member of bodies such as the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCM), Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) and Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Continued cooperation with countries such as Norway, United Kingdom, Argentina, Sweden and others resulted in strengthening research potential through joint scientific research, technical assistance or exchange of know-how. 

Table 1. Performance of India’s Antarctic Programme

Source: Ministry of Earth Sciences Annual Reports (2023–24, 2024–25) NCPOR Annual Reports (2022) , PIB Releases 2024, Union Budget Documents.

The overall performance indicates consistent progress in scientific research, institutional development, and international engagement. While India continues to expand its scientific presence and strengthen environmental governance, further investment in advanced technology, research infrastructure, and high-impact scientific publications will be essential to enhance its leadership in global polar science.

Impact 

The scientific, environmental, diplomatic and strategic results generated through India’s Antarctic programme have strengthened its stake in global climate governance. Long term observations from the Indian research stations Maitri and Bharati have advanced the scientific understanding of glaciology, atmospheric science, oceanography, marine biology, and polar biodiversity. The results contribute to international climate databases and underpin global assessments, including those of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), supporting evidence-based policymaking on climate adaptation, sea-level rise, and ecosystem service.

The programme has also broadened the scope of India’s scientific expertise and led to further interdisciplinary studies thereby fostering partnership and cooperation between universities, research organizations, and global affiliates. Collaborations in joint projects with countries like Norway, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Argentina, and Australia have allowed for the sharing of technology and knowledge as well as the building of capacity, bringing Indian scientists into major international research programs. These partnerships have enhanced India’s scientific capabilities, expanded research visibility, and strengthened its contribution to global polar science.

In addition to scientific accomplishments, sustained engagement in Antarctica has solidified India’s standing as a responsible actor in Antarctic governance. Proactive engagement in ATCM, SCAR, COMNAP and CCAMLR has provided India with a platform to add its voice to global conversations on environmental protection, the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable utilization of Antarctica. With the enforcement of the Antarctica Act, 2022, India’s reputation for reliability in the international arena has been further assured by bringing national law in line with international obligations under the Antarctic Treaty System. 

The programme has further created wider national-level benefits through the promotion of climate-resilient policymaking related, inter alia, to coastal zone management, disaster risk reduction and environmental planning. Taken together, these results clearly indicate that India’s Antarctic policy transcends science and has evolved as a potent tool to project climate diplomacy, environmental stewardship, and rules-based global governance. 

Emerging Issues 

While there is substantial progress in India’s Antarctic programme, emerging challenges related to it may impact its future role in climate governance. One of the biggest challenges is that climate change is accelerating right in Antarctica itself. Long-term continuous observations enabled by technologies such as autonomous monitoring systems, remote sensing and high resolution climate modelling are required to monitor how rapid ice-sheet melting, glacier retreat, and changing ocean circulation affect dynamic interactions with land. Enhancing these capabilities will be critical for producing robust scientific evidence and improving climate forecasting.

Antarctic governance also faces additional challenges as the geopolitical landscape changes. While the Antarctic Treaty System has largely protected the continent for scientific cooperation and exploration, rising geopolitical competition over strategic leverage, fisheries, and rare earth minerals has reignited discussions about governing Antarctica. Indeed, the anticipated review of the Madrid Protocol in 2048 has added to fears that such a repository might be exploited for mineral resources and highlights an even greater need for tighter international control mechanisms and environmental safeguards.

So even at a national level, India has limited research infrastructure and low technology capability; the country is also not able to produce more scientific output. Although polar research is growing steadily, continued reliance on sophisticated imported equipment coupled with limited indigenous technology and fewer high-impact publications limits India’s ability to take a larger leadership role in the international polar science arena. Operating one of the Earth’s harshest environments comes with its challenges, be it logistical or otherwise which helps to drive both funding and operational demands higher for each spring left.

And another issue that needs addressing is coordination at the institutional level. Increased coordination between government, research institutions, universities, and industry is needed to enhance scientific output and policy relevance. The supply side is also constrained owing to limited awareness among public and academia, about the significance of Antarctica in climate security of India. The sustained efforts to tackle these challenges through resource augmentation, technological innovation, institutional coordination, and international cooperation, will be the key to build a long-term role for India in Antarctic research and, through this, in global environmental governance. 

Way Forward 

India’s future polar engagement should therefore be one of advancing scientific capabilities, while continuously reaffirming its sustainable environmental governance. Greater investment in state of the art research infrastructure, autonomous observing platforms, satellite-based monitoring, and climate modeling will enhance the overall quality and robustness of science produced in and delivered from Antarctica. Enhanced institutional capabilities of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and increased engagement of universities and research institutions will facilitate the development of a skilled scientific community encourage multidisciplinary polar research.

Scientific diplomacy should remain central to India’s polar strategy through expanded collaborative research, technology sharing, joint expeditions, and active participation in international Antarctic institutions under the auspices of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCM), Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP), and Commission for Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) etc. Such cooperation will consolidate India’s relevance to world climate research and Antarctic rules-based governance.

Nationally, Antarctic science should be more closely integrated with national strategies for climate adaptation, particularly in coastal zone management, disaster risk reduction, and environmental management. Encouraging polar studies at the university level, raising public awareness, and inspiring innovation in native polar technology will further consolidate India’s long term scientific competitiveness. 

The Antarctica Act, 2022, would be effectively implemented, and this would be supported by regular institutional coordination and environmental monitoring between the two countries, ensuring that the pursuits of India in Antarctica continue to measure scientific progress against ecological sustainability and international responsibility. 

Conclusion

India’s Antarctic strategy demonstrates how scientific research, environmental stewardship, and international cooperation can collectively strengthen global climate governance. Continued investment in research, technology, and scientific diplomacy will enable India to expand its contribution to Antarctica’s sustainable governance while reinforcing its position as a responsible stakeholder in global climate action.

Reference

Gupta, A. (2025, April 8). Polar strategy in a changing world. Vivekananda International Foundation.

Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). (2024). Annual Report 2023–24. Government of India.https://moes.gov.in

National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR). (2024). Indian Antarctic Programme. Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.

Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). https://scar.org

Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs. (n.d.) COMNAP https://www.comnap.aq

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). https://www.ccamlr.org

Press Information Bureau (PIB). 

Ministry of Earth Sciences press releases on Antarctic expeditions. https://pib.gov.in⁠

Antarctic Treaty Secretariat. (2024). The Antarctic Treaty System.(National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research [NCPOR], 2024

Contributor:

Kavin Adithya C.B. is a Research and Editorial Intern at IMPRI (Impact and Policy Research Institute). He is currently pursuing an M.A. in International Relations at Loyola College, Chennai. His academic and research interests include International Relations, International Political Economy, Defence and Security Studies, Public Policy, Geopolitics, and Human Rights. He is passionate about analysing contemporary global affairs and strengthening his research and policy analysis skills through academic writing and public policy engagement.

Acknowledgement:

The author sincerely expresses gratitude to the reviewers and the editorial team for their valuable comments, constructive suggestions, and continuous guidance throughout the preparation of this article. Their insightful feedback significantly enhanced the clarity, organisation, and analytical quality of the manuscript. The author also acknowledges the support and encouragement received during the research and writing process, which contributed to the successful completion of this work.

Disclaimer:

All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and not necessarily to the organisation.

Reviewers: 

Shruti Sethi,Shruti Chandra 

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