India has successfully launched the 41st Scientific Expedition to Antarctica with the arrival of the first batch of its contingent at the southern white continent.
- The first batch comprising of 23 scientists and support staff reached the Indian Antarctic station Maitri in the second week of November 2021.
- The 41st expedition is being led by Dr. Shailendra Saini, Scientist National Centre for Polar & Ocean Research (Voyage Leader),.
- The 41st expedition has two major programs. The first program encompasses geological exploration of the Amery ice shelf at Bharati station.
- The second program involves reconnaissance surveys and preparatory work for drilling of 500 meters of ice core near Maitri.
- The Indian Antarctic program, which began in 1981, has completed 40 scientific expeditions, and built three permanent research base stations in Antarctica, named Dakshin Gangotri (1983), Maitri (1988) and Bharati (2012). As of today, Maitri and Bharati are fully operational.
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