MAITRI-II STATION (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The government of India intends to operationalize a new research station in East Antarctica, near existing Indian research base Maitri.

Maitri – II Station in Antarctica

• About: The Maitri Research Centre stands as the second permanent research site of the Indian Antarctic Program, located in Antarctica.
• Establishment: In December 1984.
• Early Operations: The Indian Expedition marked the initiation of work at the Maitri Research Center, becoming the first crew to engage in research at this site. 

oThe initial shelters were constructed by the IV. Antarctic Expedition, completing the task in 1989. Unfortunately, the preceding station, Dakshin Gangotri, faced burial in ice and subsequent abandonment in 1990/91.

• Geographical Setting: Situated in the rugged and hilly terrain of the Schirmacher Oasis, Maitri is strategically positioned, providing a conducive environment for scientific endeavors. Notably, it is located a mere 5 kilometers away from Russia's Novolasarevskaya station.

India’s Research Stations

• In Arctic: Himadri - located at Spitsbergen Island, Norway, IndARC - India's first underwater observatory at Svalbard, Norway.
• In Antarctic: Two operational research stations - Maitri (Commissioned in 1989) and Bharati (Commissioned in 2012)