The Union Minister for state of Earth Sciences and Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, will inaugurate two newly-constructed, state-of-the-art laboratory facilities — Polar Bhavan and Sagar Bhavan at the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Vasco-da-Gama, South Goa, on 22nd May 2025.
NCPOR, an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, is celebrating its silver jubilee this year. As India’s nodal agency for polar and ocean research, NCPOR plays a key role in conducting scientific expeditions in Antarctica, the Arctic, the Southern Ocean, and the Himalayas.
Overview of the New Facilities:
• Polar Bhavan:
Spread across 11,378 square metres, this facility is equipped to support advanced research in polar and ocean sciences through modern laboratories. It includes a “Science on Sphere (SoS)” centre to promote scientific outreach and education. The building will also house India’s first Polar and Ocean Museum, expected to be operational by 2027 — a world-class facility and the first of its kind in South Asia.
• Sagar Bhavan:
With a built-up area of 1,772 square metres, this facility features state-of-the-art ice laboratories operating at -30°C, storage for sediment and biological samples at +4°C, and a Class 1000 metal-free cleanroom laboratory for trace metal and isotope research.
These facilities mark a significant step forward in establishing NCPOR as a premier centre for world-class research and development in polar and ocean sciences.
NCPOR operates India’s National Polar Programs and manages four research stations in remote regions of the Earth:
• Maitri and Bharati in Antarctica
• Himadri in the Arctic
• Himansh in the Himalayas
In addition, NCPOR plays a pivotal role in the Deep Ocean Mission, a flagship initiative focused on exploring deep-sea mineral resources and hydrothermal systems along the Central Indian Ridge in the Indian Ocean.
