National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research
The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research was established as an autonomous Research and Development Institution fully funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. The mission mandate of the institute is “to plan, promote, co-ordinate and execute the entire gamut of polar science and logistics activities of the country in order to ensure a perceptible and influential presence of India in the polar regions and to uphold our strategic interest in the global framework of nations engaged in the studies of polar regions and surrounding Oceans”. The institutional framework of NCPOR is a reflection of its mandated responsibility as the nodal agency for planning, promotion, coordination and execution of the entire gamut of polar (Arctic and Antarctic) and southern ocean scientific research in the country as well as for the associated logistics activities. Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, is the Chairman (ex-officio) of the Governing Council.
Facts and figures
| Web | http://www.ncaor.gov.in/ |
|---|---|
| Year Established | 1998 |
| Total Number of Staff | 120 |
| Focus Areas | Indian Antarctic Program – Manging the Antarctic stations ‘Maitri’ and ‘Bharati’ in an environmentally responsible manner strictly adhering to the regulations laid down, coordination of national projects and facilitating its implementation, facilitating in-house research projects on ice core/sediment core bases paleoclimate reconstruction studies, sea ice dynamics, biodiversity studies etc. Indian Arctic Program – Managing the research station ‘Himadri’ in Ny-Ålesund, coordination of national projects mainly in the field of microbial ecology, oceanography, arctic precipitation, glaciology and environmental contamination. Indian Southern Ocean Program – Organization of annual expeditions to the Indian sector of Southern Ocean and coastal Antarctic waters. Major themes under which projects are solicited include hydrodynamics, carbon cycling and biodiversity studies. |
| Fields of Study Offered | Biology and biochemistry Environmental science Physical science (broad programmes) Earth science |