Jitendra Singh Inaugurates India’s First Integrated Polar and Ocean Research Complex in Goa

Goa: Marking a milestone in India’s scientific and strategic advancement in ocean and polar research, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh, inaugurated two cutting-edge facilities—Sagar Bhavan and Polar Bhavan—at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa on Tuesday. These are India’s first integrated research complexes dedicated to polar and ocean studies and are among only a few such facilities worldwide.

The inauguration coincided with NCPOR’s Silver Jubilee, commemorating 25 years of groundbreaking contributions to India’s polar research. Dr. Singh also launched several initiatives, including a documentary on NCPOR’s journey, a virtual tour of the upcoming Polar and Ocean Museum, and the “Science On Sphere (SOS)”, a 3D visualization platform for climate and earth system data.

Dr. Singh emphasized that with nations increasingly focusing on ocean geopolitics, these new facilities will enable India to play a pivotal global role. He said the infrastructure would not only boost India’s climate and oceanographic research capabilities but also strengthen its position in shaping global discourse on ocean governance and environmental resilience.

Constructed at a cost of ₹55 crore, Polar Bhavan is now the largest building at the NCPOR campus, covering 11,378 square metres. It features advanced laboratories for polar and ocean research, accommodation for 55 scientific personnel, conference and seminar halls, a library, canteen, and the newly launched SOS platform. The facility will soon house India’s first Polar and Ocean Museum, offering immersive science engagement to the public.

Sagar Bhavan, built at a cost of ₹13 crore and spanning 1,772 square metres, includes state-of-the-art laboratories such as two -30°C ice core labs and specialized +4°C storage units for sediment and biological samples. The structure also includes 29 research rooms and a metal-free Class 1000 clean room for trace metal and isotope studies. Dr. Singh also visited the -20°C lab section, dressed in warm Antarctica gear to experience the facility firsthand.

Highlighting the strategic value of polar research, Dr. Singh pointed out that nearly 70% of the world’s freshwater is stored in polar ice. If significant melting occurs, it could raise sea levels and seriously impact coastal regions—including India’s own 1,000-kilometre-long coastline. The new infrastructure is expected to play a critical role in addressing such global environmental challenges.

The Minister lauded NCPOR’s growing scientific reach, including its research stations in Antarctica (Maitri and Bharati), the Arctic (Himadri), and the Himalayas (Himansh). He noted that the institute leads India’s ambitious Deep Ocean Mission, a key initiative under the country’s Blue Economy roadmap.

Linking ocean science to national progress, Dr. Singh reiterated the government’s commitment to “Viksit Bharat by 2047” and noted that the Prime Minister has emphasized the importance of Blue Economy and ocean research in his last two Independence Day addresses. He also referred to the Indian Antarctic Act (2022) and the Arctic Policy (2022) as crucial frameworks for India’s sustainable and responsible scientific engagement in polar regions.

India’s polar research footprint has expanded considerably, with recent missions extending into the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, and the Central Arctic Ocean across different seasons. The addition of Sagar Bhavan and Polar Bhavan is expected to elevate India’s role in global climate dialogue and promote deeper international collaboration in ocean and polar science.