The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) has emerged as the anchor of India’s polar and oceanic exploration, said Goa Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju at the Antarctica Day celebrations held at the institute’s Vasco-da-Gama campus on 1 December 2025. Antarctica Day commemorates the signing of the Antarctica Treaty in 1959, which designates the continent for peaceful and scientific pursuits.

As Chief Guest, the Governor released a special commemorative postage stamp issued by the Department of Posts to mark the Silver Jubilee of NCPOR, recognising 25 years of its contribution to India’s scientific advancement since its establishment on 5 April 2000.

He said the institute had expanded India’s scientific reach into some of the world’s most challenging environments and had taken a leadership role in the Deep Ocean Mission. Highlighting the global significance of polar regions, he noted that Antarctica contains nearly 70 per cent of the planet’s fresh water and plays a critical role in sea-level balance and climate stability. For a nation aspiring to become developed by 2047, understanding and anticipating these changes was vital, he said.

The Governor added that Goa was proud to host an institution of such importance, assuring full support for its scientific activities.

Chief Postmaster General (Maharashtra Circle) Amitabh Singh, the Guest of Honour, said the commemorative stamp symbolised the Department of Posts’ support for NCPOR’s scientific work.

In his welcome address, NCPOR Director Dr Thamban Meloth said the Government of India had granted in-principle approval for two major polar initiatives: a new state-of-the-art research station, Maitri-II, and India’s first indigenous ice-class research vessel. He noted that the government had consistently supported the institute’s efforts.

NCPOR leads India’s scientific expeditions and research programmes across the Polar regions and the Southern Ocean. It operates permanent Indian research stations—Dakshin Gangotri, Maitri and Bharati in Antarctica, and Himadri in the Arctic—along with the Himalayan research station, Himansh.