VASCO
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, and Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh on Thursday said the National Centre of Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) at Vasco will facilitate India's increased role in geopolitics and even enable India to play a global role in ocean geopolitics.
He was speaking at the NCPOR after inaugurating ‘Sagar Bhavan’ and ‘Polar Bhavan’, two first-of its-kind facilities in India and among the very few in the world. The newly inaugurated facility marks a significant step in India’s growing focus on polar and ocean studies.
The union minister's visit coincided with the silver jubilee of NCPOR.
“The new facilities will also enable the NCPOR to gain supremacy in the study of weather patterns as also to address the climate concerns,” said Dr Singh.
The union minister noted that the addition of these facilities positions NCPOR among a select group of institutions with integrated polar and ocean research capabilities.
He highlighted that the institute’s scientific efforts are not only regionally relevant but globally significant, given the transboundary nature of polar phenomena.
He further acknowledged NCPOR’s role in maintaining India’s research presence in critical zones, including Antarctica (with stations Maitri and Bharati), the Arctic (Himadri), and the Himalayas (Himansh). The institute also leads India’s Deep Ocean Mission, a key initiative under the country’s Blue Economy roadmap.
Linking ocean science to national development goals, Dr Singh pointed to the increasing relevance of ocean geopolitics in global affairs and stressed the urgency of monitoring polar ice melt to protect India’s coastal regions.
He said institutions like NCPOR will be central to India’s scientific and strategic engagement, particularly in view of the government’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat by 2047’.
He recalled that the Prime Minister has, in two consecutive Independence Day speeches, emphasised the importance of the Blue Economy and Deep Ocean Mission.
Citing expert assessments, Dr Singh said nearly 70% of the world’s freshwater is held in polar ice.
On the occasion, Dr Singh also unveiled a documentary highlighting NCPOR’s 25-year journey and took a virtual walk-through of the upcoming museum, which is expected to offer immersive, science-based public engagement experiences.
He also launched the “Science On Sphere (SOS)” initiative, a 3D visualisation platform for displaying earth systems and climate-related data.
Later clad in warm Antarctica clothing, Dr Singh also visited the minus-20 degree centigrade lab section.
