Context:
Ministry of Earth Sciences under facilitated under Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER) scheme launched India’s 1st Winter Scientific Expedition to Arctic.
Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER):
- A Central Sector umbrella scheme.
- Implemented by – Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) through National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa.
- Objectives –
- To promote long-term scientific programmes in the polar region and the surrounding oceans that have potential societal, strategic and global relevance.
- To plan, coordinate and implement the annual expeditions.
- To establish polar research and logistic facilities in the country and to maintain Indian research bases at Antarctica, Arctic and Himalaya.
- 4 sub-schemes –
- Indian Antarctic Program –
- Initiated by – Department of Ocean Development (DOD), PMO
- Built 3 permanent Indian research bases – Dakshin Gangotri (1983), Maitri (1988) and Bharati (2012)
- Indian Arctic Program –
- Established Arctic research station – Himadri (2008)
- Research includes – atmospheric, biological, marine and glaciological studies.
- Indian Scientific Expeditions to the Southern Ocean (ISESO)
- Cryosphere and Climate – Enhanced understanding of the Antarctic cryosphere and the climate variability.
- Indian Antarctic Program –
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
Consider the following countries:
1. Denmark
2. Japan
3. Russian Federation
4. United Kingdom
5. United States of America
Which of the above are the members of the ‘Arctic Council’?
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 4 and 5
(d) 1, 3 and 5
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Members of the Arctic Council are Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden and the United States of America.
