Indian Antarctic Programme commenced with the launching of the first
expedition in 1981. Thereafter, India has been sending multi-disciplinary scientific
expeditions to Antarctica on an annual basis. The first Indian research station
'Dakshin Gangotri' was commissioned in 1983 and replaced in 1988 by the
indigenously designed second Indian permanent station, 'Maitri', was established.
This station has adequate infrastructural facilities for conducting scientific research of
contemporary nature in the icy continent. Even while, using Antarctica as a platform
for conducting scientific experiments, India has always recognised the importance of
preserving the pristine nature of this remote and unique continent. To uphold this
commitment, India, an original votary of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to
the Antarctic Treaty, has ratified this Protocol in April 1996.
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