Recalling India’s Antarctica Activities : Daily Current Affairs

Relevance: GS-3: Science and Technology- Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life.

Key Phrases: Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022, Antarctic treaty, Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, The Question of Antarctica, Madrid Protocol, Protocol on Environmental Protection,

Why in News?

Parliament has just passed the Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022 in the Rajya Sabha.
It is an important step forward in our engagement with the gigantic continent which began way back in February 1956.
It was then, at the instance of Jawaharlal Nehru and V.K. Krishna Menon, that India became the first country in the world to request for an item on the agenda of the eleventh United Nations General Assembly entitled “The Question of Antarctica” to ‘ensure that the vast areas and its resources were used entirely for peaceful purposes and general welfare.’

What is the Antarctic Treaty?

The Antarctic Treaty was signed on December 01, 1959, by 12 countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the USSR, the UK, and the US.
Their objective was to
- demilitarise Antarctica,
- promote international scientific cooperation, and
- set aside territorial sovereignty disputes.
In the following years, more countries joined the Antarctic treaty. There are now 54 members, of which 29 countries have consultative (voting) status in the Antarctic Consultative Meetings held annually and 25 countries have non-consultative membership.
India became a member of the Antarctic Treaty on August 19, 1983, and on September 12 of the same year, it received consultative status.
Following the Antarctic treaty, member countries signed the ‘Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources’ at Canberra in 1980 which India ratified in 1985.
The countries also signed the ‘Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (the Madrid Protocol) in 1991, which designates the continent as a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science.'

Research stations in Antarctica

Though there is no permanent human habitation in Antarctica, there are over 70 research stations scattered across the region from 29 countries that are signatories of the Antarctic treaty.
These countries are obliged to protect and preserve the environment’s well-being and cooperate with fellow researchers.
India currently has two operational research stations in Antarctica –
- Maitri (Commissioned in 1989) and
- Bharati (Commissioned in 2012).
It has also successfully launched 40 annual scientific expeditions to date.
With Himadri station in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, above the Arctic circle, India is among the elite nations with multiple research centres in the polar regions.

What is the Indian Antarctic Bill?

Regulatory framework:
- The bill provides a regulatory framework for India’s Antarctic activities through legal mechanisms which will help in the efficient operation of the Indian Antarctic Programme.
- It confers jurisdiction on Indian courts to deal with crimes and disputes committed by Indian citizens in parts of Antarctica.
- Legislation of such a kind will bind the citizens to the policies of the Antarctic treaty system.
Credibility:
- This will also be useful in building credibility and enhancing the status of the country globally.
- It also aims to increase India’s international visibility and credibility in Polar governance for cooperation in scientific studies and logistics.
- The bill plans to facilitate India’s involvement in the management of tourism in the Antarctic and the sustainable development of fisheries.
Indian Antarctic Authority:
- The Bill plans to set up the Indian Antarctic Authority (IAA) as an apex decision-making authority under the Earth Sciences Ministry, to provide an accountable process for supervision of Antarctic research and expeditions.
- IAA will ensure the protection and preservation of the Antarctic environment and will ensure compliance by Indian citizens engaged in the Antarctic programs and activities with relevant rules and internationally agreed standards.
- IAA will be headed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences and will have members from other relevant Ministries.
Prohibition:
- The Bill prohibits activities that contaminate the Antarctic continent including, nuclear explosion and radioactive waste disposal, the introduction of non-sterile soil, and the discharge of plastic, garbage, and other substance into the sea.

Indian Antarctic Expedition

India’s Antarctic expeditions started in 1981 with a team of 21 scientists and support staff.
The program gained global acceptance with India's signing of the Antarctic Treaty and subsequent construction of the Dakshin Gangotri Antarctic research base in 1983, superseded by the Maitri base in 1989. The newest base commissioned in 2012 is Bharati.
India has conducted a wide range of research on topics including the climate process and its connection with climate change, environmental processes and conservation, terrestrial ecosystem, observational research, and polar technology in the Antarctic.
The entire Indian Antarctic program is managed by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa.
On November 15, 2021, India launched its latest exploration in the Antarctic with two major programs which aim to explore the link between India and Antarctica in the past and to understand the Antarctic climate.

Way forward:

The issue of a polar research vessel, however, still needs to be addressed immediately.
So far, India has been chartering such ships from countries like Russia and Norway while China has raced ahead and has two of its own. Of late, chartering has been presenting its difficulties.
A decision was indeed taken by the Union Cabinet in October 2014 for India to have its research ship with ice-breaking and other advanced technological capabilities but it remains unimplemented.
Surely if fighter aircraft could be acquired from abroad giving a go-by to the Make-in-India policy, a research ship could also be so acquired.
The acquisition of a vessel permanently is a logical next step to the passage of the Bill as also the revamp of the quite old Maitri research station.
The polar research vessel will also be required as India expands its association with and involvement in the Arctic as well.

Source: The Hindu, Business Standard

Mains Question:

Q. Discuss the key features of the Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022 and also elaborate how it intends to protect the Antarctic region's fragile ecosystem.