This seventh continent, much larger than India and China put together has been source of interest for the inquisitive minds for a long time. Remote and extreme, the Antarctica is now emerging as an important key in the understanding of global and environmental concerns. Its unique features have provided scientists with special opportunities over the last 35 years to investigate the origin of the continents, the pollution of the globe, and changes in world climate. Meteorology from Antarctica have provided the factors that are essential in forecasting the weather patterns of the southern hemisphere and the circulation pattern of the world ocean system. The ice cores retrieved from the continent act as a repository of information on the paleoclimate and environmental history of the earth. It is clear that Antarctic science will increasingly contribute to our understanding of these and other global problems. Since 1981, erstwhile Department of Ocean Development (now Ministry of earth Sciences) has been launching scientific research expeditions on annual basis to Antarctica to utilise its singular environment as a great natural laboratory for scientific investigations. Geological and geophysical research in Antarctica provides new insights into earths geological history and information on paleoclimatic continents. Environment of Antarctica provide an opportunity to study atmospheric science, depletion of ozone, adaptation of organisms to extreme environment etc.

This seventh continent, much larger than India and China put together has been source of interest for the inquisitive minds for a long time. Remote and extreme, the Antarctica is now emerging as an important key in the understanding of global and environmental concerns. Its unique features have provided scientists with special opportunities over the last 35 years to investigate the origin of the continents, the pollution of the globe, and changes in world climate. Meteorology from Antarctica have provided the factors that are essential in forecasting the weather patterns of the southern hemisphere and the circulation pattern of the world ocean system. The ice cores retrieved from the continent act as a repository of information on the paleoclimate and environmental history of the earth. It is clear that Antarctic science will increasingly contribute to our understanding of these and other global problems. Since 1981, erstwhile Department of Ocean Development (now Ministry of earth Sciences) has been launching scientific research expeditions on annual basis to Antarctica to utilise its singular environment as a great natural laboratory for scientific investigations. Geological and geophysical research in Antarctica provides new insights into earths geological history and information on paleoclimatic continents. Environment of Antarctica provide an opportunity to study atmospheric science, depletion of ozone, adaptation of organisms to extreme environment etc. By virtue of its contribution to Antarctic science and its presence in Antarctica, India has been accorded consultative status in the Antarctica Treaty System. It is a member of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), Committee of Managers of National Antarctic Programme (COMNAP) Standing Committee on Antarctic Logistics (SCALOP) and a party of the Convention on Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). India is a founder member of Asian Forum for Polar Science (AFOPS) which is active not only in Antarctica but also in Arctic. In 2006, India joined Dronning Maud Land Air Operators Network (DROMLAN) as one of the founder member. The membership entitles us to use the air services to special Runways existing CDML region at reasonable cost sharing basis. The scientific activities of India which started on a modest scale has evolved into a comprehensive ongoing programme that has been subject to continuous updating in accordance with the national priorities and global perspectives. To carry out its scientific programmes India established first station at Dakshin Gangotri (lat 70deg.05' South, long 12deg.00' East) in 1983.

The second permanent station Maitri was established at Schimacher ranges (lat 70 deg.46' south, long 11deg.50' East) in 1989. Dakshin Gangotri is now being used as supply base and transit camp. Maitri Station is manned throughout the year round scientific activities. The station is specially designed and built to withstand the vagaries of the extreme climate of Antarctica. The single storied building is well equipped with sophisticated laboratory facilities to carry out scientific research. The basic amenities are provided to make the stay for the team comfortable and result oriented. The station is equipped with essential communication links with India through satellite and High frequency band transmission (HF). A dedicated "Satellite Communication Link" connecting Indian Research Base "Maitri' in Antarctica and National Centre for Antarctic & Ocean Research (NCAOR), Vasco-da-Gama, Goa has been established by installing a 3 meters C-band antenna enclosed in a RAYDOME at Maitri and a corresponding 7.2 meters antenna at NCAOR, Goa in collaboration with Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad & Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Hyderabad. This satcom link will bring about a paradigm shift in scientific & logistic operations, planning & coordination by providing a 24x7 connectivity @1 mbps that facilitates online collaboration, online real time data transfer, video conferencing, email and web browsing facility, live television broadcast.